"Welcome to Israel = Keren Hayesod - United Israel Campaign", original sketch for a promotion poster on behalf of "Keren Hayesod", created by Jan Lewitt and George Him. [London, ca. 1952].
Gouache on cardboard (the text, in Hebrew and English, appears on pieces of paper glued to the cardboard). Signed: Lewitt-Him.
A fine colorful illustration, depicting a desert landscape with two tractors plowing the soil from north to south, with furrows between them in the shape of a Star of David.
The poster, in its final version, was printed by "Levine-Epstein" in Tel-Aviv in 1952. See: "Keren Hayesod Sows - The Hebrew People Reap, Keren Hayesod Posters 1920-2010" (editor: David Tartakover). Published by "Keren Hayesod", 2010.
The artists Jan Lewitt (1907-1991) and George Him (1900-1981), both born in Poland, founded a joint studio for graphic design in Warsaw in 1933. In 1937 they immigrated to London; there they were mainly involved in advertisement (they designed, among others, posters and announcements for the British Ministry of Information) as well as in writing and illustrating children's books. Both were involved in projects related to Israel. Jan Lewitt designed the Hebrew font "Haim". George Him designed, among other projects, the "Masada Exhibition" and served as a design consultant to "El-Al" company. In 1954 the partnership was dissolved.
54X76 cm. Good condition. Some stains. Flaking, glue marks and remnants. Some damages at margins. Pieces of paper with text are slightly detached. Placed in a passe-partout.