Gan Yeladim Series: Ha’tochen, Ha’tocheneth Ve’avnei Ha’reichaim [“The Miller, His Wife and Their Millstones”]. Children’s story by BEN-ZION RASKIN (“Uncle Ben-Zion”)

(LISSITZKY, ELIEZER)

Tarbut

Warsaw

1923

FIRST HEBREW EDITION. With cover design, title page and 11 illustrations by LISSITZKY

Israel Museum Catalogue, Tradition and Revolution, no. 93 and cf. 92 i-xi (illustrated)

Lissitzky’s later Yiddish book illustrations combine some of Chagall’s influence with the contemporary ideas of Constructivism. In Ha’tochen, Ha’tocheneth Ve’avnei Ha’reichaim, Lissitzky’s illustrations are within circles or cubes, the animals evince an anthropomorphic element and the architectural designs are Constructivist in influence. This was the only Hebrew languague work illustrated by Lissitzky. See Ch. Abramsky, Yiddish Book Illustrations in Russia: 1916-1923 in Israel Museum Catalogue, Tradition and Revolution, p.65