Rudolf (Rudi) Lehmann (Hebrew: רודי להמן) was a German-born Israeli sculptor and Wood carving artist.[1] He was one of the pioneers of sculpture in the State of Israel.[2]
Rudolf (Rudi) Lehmann | |
|---|---|
 Rudolf (Rudi) Lehmann | |
| Born | August 25, 1903 |
| Died | 1977 |
| Nationality | Israeli, Jewish, German |
| Education | Kunsthochschule Berlin-Weißensee |
| Known for | Sculptor and Wood carving artist |
| Movement | Israeli art |
Biography edit
Rudolf (Rudi) Lehmann (1903-1977), born in Berlin, August 25, 1903 to non-Jewish German Elizabeth Sender. In 1919 Rudolf was adopted by the Lehmann family. He was one of the pioneers of wood sculpting in the State of Israel.
Studies edit
In 1912 in Berlin he practiced, wood sculpture with Ludwig Vordermayer. In 1917-1922, he studied mechanics and worked as a blacksmith's apprentice. After studying woodcarving and sculpture with sculptor Harold Isenstein, he attended the de:Kunsthochschule Berlin-Weißensee (Municipal Art School Berlin-Weißensee), majoring in sculpture and ceramics. During his studies there, he met Hedwig Grossman, whom he later married.[3][4] In 1928-1930, Lehmann worked for Holzmann's Stone Mason and Carving company. He became a freelance stonemason and sculptor for museums around Germany, including the Pergamon Museum in Berlin, and worked in terra cotta at Hedwig's ceramics workshop. In the summer of 1933, Lehmann immigrated to Mandate Palestine with his wife and settled in Haifa. They established a ceramics testing laboratory at the Technion in Haifa and settled on Kibbutz Yagur in 1935, where they established a flower pot factory.
In 1937, the couple opened a sculpture studio in Jerusalem, where Lehmann produced miniature carvings from olive wood, ivory, horn and gemstones sold as tourist souvenirs. In 1945-1947, Lehmann worked for the Haganah, building models and ballistic implements. In 1947-1948, he joined the Jewish Agency's Self-Defense Planning Committee.
In 1953, he helped to found the Ein Hod Artists' Village, where he taught sculpture. Among his students were Yigael Tumarkin[5] and Menashe Kadishman.[6] In 1959, Lehmann and his wife moved to Givatayim where he established an art school under the auspices of the Givatayim municipality. The school held classes in sculpture, woodcuts and ceramics for young people and adults.[7]
Lehmann's work was influenced by the Canaanism school of Israeli art.[8] which attempted to create a direct relationship with the Land of Israel by emphasizing simple shapes and motifs from the sculpture and ritual art of early Middle Eastern civilizations.[9]
He died in 1977.
Awards and recognition edit
- 1933 Dizengoff Prize for Painting and Sculpture, Municipality of Tel Aviv-Yafo
- 1951 Dizengoff Prize for Painting and Sculpture, Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Municipality of Tel Aviv-Yafo
- 1953 Dizengoff Prize for Painting and Sculpture, Municipality of Tel Aviv-Yafo
- 1966 Dizengoff Prize for Painting and Sculpture, Municipality of Tel Aviv-Yafo
Education edit
- 1912 Academy of Berlin, Germany, wood sculpture with Vordermeyer
- 1917 Berlin, Germany, blacksmithing and metalworking
- 1922-24 woodcarving and sculpture with sculptor Harold Isenstein
- 1923 Municipal High School for Art, Berlin, Germany, sculpture and ceramics
- 1924-28 Modern Art School, Berlin, Germany, sculpture and ceramics
Teaching edit
- 1923-25 Art School, Berlin Municipality, Germany
- 1934 Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, Jerusalem
- 1959 Studio in Givatayim, sculpture and ceramics
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "The Wood Menagerie: Works by Rudi Lehmann". Times of Israel.
- ^ Slyomovics, Susan (1 June 1998). The Object of Memory: Arab and Jew Narrate the Palestinian Village. University of Pennsylvania Press. ISBN 0812215257 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Artists: Yishuv and Israel: 1920-1970 - Jewish Women's Archive". Jewish Women's Archive.
- ^ "Hedwig Grossman Lehmann". Information Center for Israeli Art.
- ^ "Ygael Tumarkin". Safrai Fine Art gallery - Jerusalem.
- ^ "The Farkash Gallery - Vintage Israeli Posters - 14th Israeli Independence Day poster 1962". Archived from the original on 2014-08-13.
- ^ "Rudolf (Rudi) Lehmann". Information Center for Israeli Art. The Israel Museum, Jerusalem. Archived from the original on 2014-08-13.
- ^ Alon, Yigal (Summer 2003). "The Crisis of Israeli Culture". Azure (15).
- ^ "Calman Shemi". Blue Fine Art.
External links edit
- Rudolph Lehmann collection at the Israel Museum. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
- "Rudolph (Rudi) Lehmann". Information Center for Israeli Art. Israel Museum. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
- (Rudi) Art of Rudolph (Rudi) Lehmann at Europeana. Retrieved 5 July 2016