Yosef Budko - Signed and Dated Sketches of his Father and Mother - Berlin, 1912 - Unique Items! From the Artist's House!

The Jewish artist Yosef Budko (1888-1940) was born in Plonsk, Poland. When he was 17, he moved to Vilnius to study at the local school of arts. In 1910, he moved to Berlin where he studied with the well-known Jewish artist Hermann Struck. Following his studies in Berlin, he focused mainly on woodcuts and drawing and created a series of engravings, woodcuts and illustrations, most of which describe Jewish life in the Diaspora and express intense longing for his parents' house and the life of the "Shteitel". In 1933, Budko immigrated to the Land of Israel and two years later was appointed the director of the "New Bezalel" School of Arts. He served as the director till his dying day.
Budko had a close relationship with his father, Ya'akov (ben Yisrael Ha'Cohen), who was a religious, educated merchant, the owner of a bakery, a person of means, one of the first members of "Chovevei Zion" in Plonsk. His mother was Gitl of the Sitko family. From early childhood, Budko tasted the unique combination of Jewish tradition, Zionism (his parents used to speak Hebrew at home!) and culture.

The portraits of his parents were most likely drawn from the photographs Budko used to carry with him when he lived in Berlin.
A. Pencil sketch of his father, Reb Ya'akov – an impressive, elderly Jew with a beard and a large skullcap. On the bottom right side the artist's signature and date: 1912.
B. Pencil sketch of his mother, Mrs. Gitl – an elderly lady with a round hairdo and earrings, large deep eyes with a veil of sadness. On the bottom right side the artist's signature and date: 1912.
Condition: Very Good. Some stains. The sketches are framed.