"Sabbatai Zevi" – 44 Original Illustrations by Rosy Lilienfeld – Germany, 1932-1933

Forty-four original drawings by Rosy Lilienfeld, (Franfkurt am Main 1896-Auschwitz 1942) – illustrating the story of Sabbatai Zevi. [Frankfurt], 1932-1933. Graphite on paper. Signed and dated.
Fine drawings, of mystic nature, depicting scenes from the life of the Messiah claimant Sabbatai Zevi and his followers.
Among the scenes: Sabbatai Zevi riding a horse; Sabbatai Zevi declaring himself a Messiah in front of people in a market place; Sabbatai Zevi’s name is revealed to Nathan of Gaza; Nathan of Gaza blesses Sabbatai Zevi; Meeting with the Turkish Sultan; and more.
German-Jewish artist Rosy Lilienfeld, was born in Frankfurt am Main. Her artistic work was much inspired by literary texts (she illustrated the novel “Job” by Joseph Roth, “The Metamorphosis” by Franz Kafka, and more), mainly of Jewish mystic nature and Hassidic and biblical stories. An edition of “The Legend of the Baalshem” by Martin Buber, illustrated by Lilienfeld, was published in 1935. In 1942 Lilienfeld was deported to Auschwitz where she was murdered.
44 drawings, approx. 34.5X27.5 cm. Mounted (with adhesive tape on four corners) to a passé-par-tout, 33X48 cm, and contained in a fine portfolio. Each drawing is titled in German (in print) on a piece of paper attached to the passé-par-tout. Overall good condition. Stains to passé-par-tout leaves and to some of the drawings. Several drawings detached or partly detached from passé-par-tout.