"Die Fahrt Nach Amerika" or "The Journey to America", circa 1920
Abstract
Black and white lithograph of "Die Fahrt Nach Amerika" or "The Journey to America" which is part of a series of works artist Rachel Szalit-Marcus did for Sholom Aleichem's "Menshelakh un Stsenes" published in 1922. The print has passengers perhaps abord or waiting to board a ship for America. Seven figures are present: three men, one boy and three women. The men and boy wears hats and the women wear scarves on their heads. The group is huddled with... their belongings behind a picket fence and face the left side of the print toward the sun.
See moreDates
- circa 1920
Creator
- Szalit-Marcus, Rachel, 1894-1942 (Person)
Physical Description
Black ink on yellowed paper with a horizontal orientation. Upper right corner bent, upper left coner torn off and slight outline of mat from framing is evident. A small piece of tape is affixed to the center top on the back and tape runs down the right edge and along the bottom of the reverse side of the print. A small amount of sheen from adheasive residue remains across the bottom center on front.
Biographical / Historical
SZALIT-MARCUS, RACHEL (1894–1942), painter and book illustrator. She spent her childhood in Lodz. Her parents, simple working people, encouraged her artistic talent, and in 1911 sent her to Munich to study at the Art Academy. Here she met Julius Szalit, a successful Jewish actor, whom she married. Szalit later committed suicide. In 1916 Rachel moved to Berlin, where she exhibited with the artists of the Secession group and became a member of the November... group, young avant-garde artists who joined forces after the November Revolution of 1918. When the Nazis assumed power Rachel Szalit-Marcus fled to France. In 1942 she was arrested and sent to a concentration camp where she died. She painted portraits, flower pieces, and still-lifes. Her best-known works consist of lithographic illustrations to books by Mendele Mokher Seforim, Shalom Aleichem, Israel Zangwill, Heinrich Heine, and Martin Buber.
Lithographs were mixed in with Maria Lowenstein's works. It is very possible the two artists were friends in Berlin.
Extent
From the File: 1 Files (4 lithographs on paper)
Scope and Contents
Materials in this collection were gathered and preserved by Henry Lowenstein's mother Maria Loewenstein. Materials include legal documents and correspondence from the Nazi government of Germany, identification papers issued by the Nazi government, ration books, personal correspondence including letters from family sent through the Red Cross and friends in the Theresienstadt Concntration Camp and Lodz (Lodj) Ghetto, photographs, legal documents and utility receipts used by Maria Loewenstein to prove she was not a Jew, admission and discharge papers from the Wittenauer Sanatorium, Socialist Democratic Party membership cards, and Henry Lowenstein's videographed oral history and an exhibit book containing a brief written history of his family. The collection also contains artwork created by Marie and Henry Lowenstein. The collection ranges from 1848 to 2013.
Custodial History
Donated by Henry Lowenstein.
Physical Description
Black ink on yellowed paper with a horizontal orientation. Upper right corner bent, upper left coner torn off and slight outline of mat from framing is evident. A small piece of tape is affixed to the center top on the back and tape runs down the right edge and along the bottom of the reverse side of the print. A small amount of sheen from adheasive residue remains across the bottom center on front.
Dimensions
34 x 24 cm.
General
Title supplied by artist.
Creator
- Szalit-Marcus, Rachel, 1894-1942 (Person)
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections and Archives Repository