"Kofer Cheder" [Room Tax], an original artwork for a poster for the Tel-Aviv Municipality, created by Pesach Ir-Shai. [Palestine, 1948].
Gouache and pencil on cardboard. Signed in the upper left corner.
With the outbreak of the War of Independence, the city of Tel-Aviv was flooded with thousands of refugees who escaped the battle zones. Since there were not enough houses to accomodate the refugees, masses invaded schools, synagogues and deserted structures in the city. In order to fund the establishment of residential units for the refugees, the Tel-Aviv Municipality imposed a "Room Tax" on the residents of the city. The tax was graded and was determined by the number of residents per apartment – the more crowded the apartment, the lower the "Room Tax" that was to be paid.
21X28 cm. Good condition. Creases and minor blemishes. A small tear and three pinholes at the bottom. A piece of paper is taped to verso.