Description
60 official posters, printed for the State of Israel Independence Day, 1949-2012.Independence Day posters are produced every year since 1949, by the Information office of the Ministry of Education, as part of the Independence Day celebrations. Every year a special committee of the Publications Department, Information Center, chooses the designated poster for that year. Amongst the designers of the Independence Day posters during the years are artists and graphic designers: Yochanan Simon, Rudolf Seidner, Paul Kor, Haim Nahor, Gidi Keich, Miriam Karoli, Assaf Berg, Kopel Gurvin, Ziona Shimshi, Gideon Saguy, Jean David, Eliezer Wiesshoff, David Tartakover, and others.The posters reflect an esthetic expression of symbols and ideals of Israeli society and the developing national ethos; the symbol of the State of Israel appears in different shapes and forms: Magen David, flag, Menorah, olive branches and icons of Jewish art as well as values mentioned in the Declaration of Independence: Aliyah, settlement, building of the state, love of the homeland and the historical right of the people of Israel to live in their land. The central theme of the year is also obvious in each year's poster as was determined by the Ministerial Committee for Symbols and Ceremonies.Observing the Independence Day posters lets one follow the development of graphic design in Israel and the changes in public agenda.For example, the first poster which was designed in 1949 by the painter Yochanan Simon, portrays a pair of muscled arms, raising the flag up the mast (also in blue and white) next to which appears a sentence from the Declaration of Independence: "it is the natural right of the Jewish people to be like all other nations in their own sovereign state." This poster, dedicated to the right of the Jewish people to be independent in a sovereign Jewish state, reflects the Socialist-realistic style of the period.The poster designed for the 20th Independence Day by the painter and tapestry artist Kopel Gurvin, features two lions sticking out their tongues and the Temple Menorah designed as a bush. At the tips of the candle holders are 7 goblets in the shape of flowers, in each bud appears a letter - the letters compose the word "Jerusalem" - symbolizing the first Independence Day after the Six-Days War.One of the most famous posters is the one of the 30th Independence Day (1978) designed by David Tartakover. This poster is in a minimalistic style with the word "Shalom" on the background of blue skies. The letter "ל" in gematria stands for 30 - this letter appears in a different color and symbolizes the 30th anniversary of the State. Tartakover used the font "Koren" which is based on ancient Sephardic writing. This font was designed by Eliyahu Koren (Korngold) for the publication of his edition of the bible. Tartakover used this font later to design the logo of "Peace Now" movement. The poster was designed during the negotiations towards the peace agreement between Israel and Egypt. This was the first time that direct peace talks were conducted with a neighboring Arab country aimed at a peace agreement. The minimalism and restraint are obvious and so is the color combination of blue and white and the unique typography - all of which express, to a certain extent, the euphoria prevailing in Israel when President Sadat landed in Ben-Gurion airport on November 19 1977.The 31st Independence Day poster (1979), designed by Assaf Berg, reflects the peace agreement with Egypt which was signed one month earlier. Arab and Jewish houses standing next to each other are seen in this poster and the phrase "Peace and quietness unto Israel". The Menorah is a dominant motif in this poster. The seven branches are stretched and turn into roads or furrows, in color, plowed in the land of Israel, similar to the view that the poet Avraham Shlonsky described in his poem "Amal". The collection presented includes posters of the years 1949-2012, except for nine posters (of the years 1950, 1955-1957, 1959. 1961, 1962, 1965 and 2001. No poster was printed in 1957.There are three posters for 1998 Independence Day and two official posters for the years 1973, 1978 and 1988.In addition, attached are seven Independence Day posters which are not of this series:A poster printed by" Keren HaYessod "of 1948, designed by Shamir Brothers; a poster printed by JNF of 1962 with an illustration by Z. Berger; "Let your home be decorated and lit up for the 10th anniversary", a poster designed by Kor, Ortzel printing press, 1958; a poster produced by the Ministry of Education concerning the Declaration of the State of Israel and the Independence Day posters; A ministry of Education poster with photos of Independence day posters; a poster in honor of the 50th Independence Day, 1998; a poster for the 46th Independence Day, 1994.Sizes and conditions vary. There is some staining to some of the posters, folding marks, minor creases and tears at margin. 15 posters are linen-backed for display and conservation.60 official posters, printed for the State of Israel Independence Day, 1949-2012.Independence Day posters are produced every year since 1949, by the Information office of the Ministry of Education, as part of the Independence Day celebrations. Every year a special committee of the Publications Department, Information Center, chooses the designated poster for that year. Amongst the designers of the Independence Day posters during the years are artists and graphic designers: Yochanan Simon, Rudolf Seidner, Paul Kor, Haim Nahor, Gidi Keich, Miriam Karoli, Assaf Berg, Kopel Gurvin, Ziona Shimshi, Gideon Saguy, Jean David, Eliezer Wiesshoff, David Tartakover, and others.The posters reflect an esthetic expression of symbols and ideals of Israeli society and the developing national ethos; the symbol of the State of Israel appears in different shapes and forms: Magen David, flag, Menorah, olive branches and icons of Jewish art as well as values mentioned in the Declaration of Independence: Aliyah, settlement, building of the state, love of the homeland and the historical right of the people of Israel to live in their land. The central theme of the year is also obvious in each year's poster as was determined by the Ministerial Committee for Symbols and Ceremonies.Observing the Independence Day posters lets one follow the development of graphic design in Israel and the changes in public agenda.For example, the first poster which was designed in 1949 by the painter Yochanan Simon, portrays a pair of muscled arms, raising the flag up the mast (also in blue and white) next to which appears a sentence from the Declaration of Independence: "it is the natural right of the Jewish people to be like all other nations in their own sovereign state." This poster, dedicated to the right of the Jewish people to be independent in a sovereign Jewish state, reflects the Socialist-realistic style of the period.The poster designed for the 20th Independence Day by the painter and tapestry artist Kopel Gurvin, features two lions sticking out their tongues and the Temple Menorah designed as a bush. At the tips of the candle holders are 7 goblets in the shape of flowers, in each bud appears a letter - the letters compose the word "Jerusalem" - symbolizing the first Independence Day after the Six-Days War.One of the most famous posters is the one of the 30th Independence Day (1978) designed by David Tartakover. This poster is in a minimalistic style with the word "Shalom" on the background of blue skies. The letter "ל" in gematria stands for 30 - this letter appears in a different color and symbolizes the 30th anniversary of the State. Tartakover used the font "Koren" which is based on ancient Sephardic writing. This font was designed by Eliyahu Koren (Korngold) for the publication of his edition of the bible. Tartakover used this font later to design the logo of "Peace Now" movement. The poster was designed during the negotiations towards the peace agreement between Israel and Egypt. This was the first time that direct peace talks were conducted with a neighboring Arab country aimed at a peace agreement. The minimalism and restraint are obvious and so is the color combination of blue and white and the unique typography - all of which express, to a certain extent, the euphoria prevailing in Israel when President Sadat landed in Ben-Gurion airport on November 19 1977.The 31st Independence Day poster (1979), designed by Assaf Berg, reflects the peace agreement with Egypt which was signed one month earlier. Arab and Jewish houses standing next to each other are seen in this poster and the phrase "Peace and quietness unto Israel". The Menorah is a dominant motif in this poster. The seven branches are stretched and turn into roads or furrows, in color, plowed in the land of Israel, similar to the view that the poet Avraham Shlonsky described in his poem "Amal". The collection presented includes posters of the years 1949-2012, except for nine posters (of the years 1950, 1955-1957, 1959. 1961, 1962, 1965 and 2001. No poster was printed in 1957.There are three posters for 1998 Independence Day and two official posters for the years 1973, 1978 and 1988.In addition, attached are seven Independence Day posters which are not of this series:A poster printed by" Keren HaYessod "of 1948, designed by Shamir Brothers; a poster printed by JNF of 1962 with an illustration by Z. Berger; "Let your home be decorated and lit up for the 10th anniversary", a poster designed by Kor, Ortzel printing press, 1958; a poster produced by the Ministry of Education concerning the Declaration of the State of Israel and the Independence Day posters; A ministry of Education poster with photos of Independence day posters; a poster in honor of the 50th Independence Day, 1998; a poster for the 46th Independence Day, 1994.Sizes and conditions vary. There is some staining to some of the posters, folding marks, minor creases and tears at margin. 15 posters are linen-backed for display and conservation.
