Art Retreat in Buchen – Liad Shadmis review
From October 8th to 20th, I participated in my first art residency in Buchen, Odenwald, organized by Dagesh – Jewish Arts in Context. Once home to a thriving Jewish community, the town’s synagogue was lost due to the rise of the National Socialist Party. Longtime resident Mr. Schmerbeck, who witnessed these events as a child, founded the Jewish library in 1998, now housing around 10,000 volumes on Judaism.
During my residency, I explored the typographical history of European Jewry, documenting styles like Ashkenazi and Mizrachi. I was captivated by gravestones from Polish Jewish graveyards, showcasing intricate Hebrew carvings. The early 20th century saw secular Jewish communities adopting Latin script for signage, while in Poland, bilingual signs were common.
I found artistic treasures, including an illustrated 1918 book by Ephraim Moses Lilien, a prominent Jewish artist. Other notable works included illustrations by Käthe Münzer and Menachem Birenbaum. I reflected on the use of “Faux Hebrew” in antisemitic propaganda and its dual identity expression among some Jewish artists.
The oldest book I documented was a 1800 fable collection featuring Mizrachi and Rashi typefaces. Before WWII, a vibrant Jewish publishing industry existed in German-speaking countries, with unique logos and designs that survived historical persecutions.
Overall, my two weeks in Buchen offered deep insights into the artistic and cultural expressions of pre-WWII Jewish life, revealing layers of history that highlight the importance of preserving our heritage.
Photos by Liad Shadmi
