The God Seekers.
Tel Aviv, Hapoel Hatzair, 1923
Reuven Rubin (born Zelicovici, 1893–1974) was one of the most prominent Israeli painters and Israel's first ambassador to Romania. He was one of the pioneers on the Eretz-Yisrael painting style. His art is said to be reflecting the light and spirituality of the Land of Israel.
The Eretz-Yisrael painting school was a movement active in the Holy Land during 1920s and 1930s. These artists rebelled against the Bezalel school, which according to the rebels was too 'Galut-riddled' (Galut meaning exile or Diaspora in Hebrew). They were the voice of the Modern art in the Holy Land, who looked for new ways of artistic expression.
The God Seekers combine images of Jewish tradition and mysticism with views of the Holy Land at the time of the Third Aliyah. Some of these motives reoccur later in Rubin's oils (such as The Dancers of Miron). Some Israeli art critics compared these images to German Expressionism and saw in them an expression of national and spiritual resurrection.
In 1924 Rubin sent this album as a gift to Herbert Louis Samuel - the High Commissioner of Palestine at the time, who is also known to be the first practising Jew (although noted for his personal atheism), to serve as a Cabinet minister and to become the leader of the British Labour party. The album was sent back to Rubin with the explanation that the Commissioner does not sympathise this sort of art.
Portfolio of 12 limited edition original woodcuts (52 x 35.5 cm). No. 46 out of 115. Original wax seal, signed and numbered by the artist; 2 title sheets and 2 contents sheets in Hebrew and English, printed in black and umber, 12 loose woodcut prints in original paper mounts printed in black.
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