The Museum of Biblical Art (MOBIA) presents The Land of Light and Promise 50 Years Painting Jerusalem and Beyond, Ludwig Blum (1891-1974). Exhibition on view OCTOBER 28, 2011–JANUARY 15, 2012.

Ludwig Blum Temple Mount and the Western Wall 1943 Oil on canvas 32 x 46 cm Private Collection

Known as the “Painter of Jerusalem,” Ludwig Blum (1891-1974) immigrated to Palestine in 1923 from what is now the Czech Republic. A veteran of the First World War and an academically-trained painter, Blum set about depicting the Middle East, most notably, the Holy Land, both through vast topographical scenes and through small-scale street and marketplace scenes. He portrayed Palestine, and later Israel, with an intimacy borne of his love for his adopted homeland and its people, and he painted Jewish, Christian, and Muslim sites alike, largely devoid of religious overtones. While he did not adopt a modernist aesthetic, Blum was unlike the Orientalist painters of the 19th century, with whom he is often compared. He did not wish to present a romanticized vision of the Holy Land of biblical times; rather, his paintings reflect the perceptions of a 20th century viewer.

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