Guestbook of Trude and Hugo Graetz, with an original painting by Jacob Steinhardt, original paintings by other artists active in Germany in the 1920s, and greetings handwritten by friends of the couple. Germany and Israel, 1920-1961.
Hugo Graetz was a German art dealer, a member of the "November Group" - a revolutionary group of expressionist artists and architects founded in 1918, which called for greater social-political involvement of artists. In 1934 Graetz immigrated to Palestine with his wife, painter Trude Graetz. The two settled in the artists' colony founded by Sarah Levi at Mount Canaan (Safed). The settlement on Mount Canaan was not successful, and following the outbreak of the Great Arab Revolt, the seven families of artists living in the community alongside the Graetz family left the place. In 1938 the British Mandate government decided to establish a number of meteorological stations throughout the country, including a station on Mount Canaan. Lacking other candidates, Hugo Graetz was appointed director of the station. Graetz quickly learned the work of weather prediction, directing the meteorological station on Mount Canaan with devotion and for many years, until his death in 1961.
In the beginning of the guestbook are seventeen full-page paintings (in different techniques: pencil, ink, charcoal, watercolor, and more), signed by the artists. Some are accompanied by short dedications to Hugo and Trude Graetz and dated (1920-1921). Artists include:
* Jacob Steinhardt - handsome painting (ink and charcoal), with a short dedication to Graetz, dated: March, 1920. * Willy Robert Huth (1890-1977), German artist, members of the Jung-Erfurt group of expressionist artists. * Friedrich (Bedřich) Feigl, 1884-19650, Jewish painter and graphic designer, born in Prague. * Martel Schwichtenberg (1884-1965). * Franz Winninger (1893-1960). * And others.
At the end of the book are handwritten greetings and dedications to Hugo and Trude Graetz, written by friends visiting the couple in their home on Mount Canaan, from the years 1955-1965 (in German, English and Hebrew).
[17] leaves of drawings; seven leaves of handwritten greetings + empty leaves. 28 cm. Good condition. Thick, high-quality paper. Stains and slight damage. Binding partly detached. Loose leaves.