“With the Eyes of a Jew”: Unveiling Canvas of Identity in Early 20th Century Art Expeditions to Mandate Palestine

Abstract

In the early 20th century, a wave of missions to exotic lands, including Mandate Palestine, sparked artistic exploration across cinema, painting, and photography. This article examines how painters on these expeditions aimed to express Jewish identity through their artwork. Drawing from exhibition reviews, it explores the transformative impact of these journeys on artists’ worldview and artistic expression, highlighting their role in bolstering Jewish self-awareness. Through examples like Artur Szyk, Adolphe Feder, and Mane-Katz, it demonstrates how travel to Eretz Israel shaped artists’ self-perception, enriching their artistic perspective while maintaining their deeply rooted ethnic identity.