E. M. Lilien: Jugendstil Artist and Book Illustrator

E. M. Lilien - Jewish May — Illustration for “Der Jüdische Mai” (Jewish May) by E. M. Lilien in Morris Rosenfeld's *Lieder des Ghetto* , from 1902. Lilien fused Zionist iconography with Art Nouveau style in this volume of German translations of Yiddish poems by Rosenfeld. LBI Library Collection, q PJ 5129 R6 L5.

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E. M. Lilien - Galicia — A rural farm scene with wispy trees, wooden, woven sheds and fencing, a cart and farm implements in Galicia in Eastern Europe. This print was made by E. M. Lilien in 1921. LBI Art & Object Collection, 2019.15.

E. M. Lilien - New Art of Ancient People, Silent Song illustration — Illustration of "The Silent Song" from the book *The New Art of An Ancient people: the Work of E. M. Lilien* , dated 1905. LBI Library Collection, NC 251 L5 L48.

E. M. Lilien - Ost & West — Illustration by E. M. Lilien, the title page of the Zionist periodical "Ost und West." This illustration was reproduced in a compilation of Lilien's work titled *E. M. Lilien, sein Werk, mit einer Einleitung von Stefan Zweig*, published in 1903. LBI Library Collection, q NE 654 L5 E4.

E. M. Lilien - Motherhood — Print by E. M. Lilien, dated 1919, which shows a mother with a child sitting on her shoulder. The image was possibly a scene from Jerusalem. LBI Art & Object Collection, 2019.17.

E.M. Lilien, Books of the Bible — This illustration by E. M. Lilien shows Moses coming down the mountain with the Ten Commandments. Theodor Herzl is represented as Moses in this image, which was featured in the book *Die Buecher der Bibel, Vol. 1. Creators: Bible, Old Testament.* by Edward Reuss, published in 1908. LBI Library Collection, BS 941 R3 v.1.

E.M. Lilien - The Printing Press — Print by E. M. Lilien, early 20th century. Naturalistic scene shows a man working at a printing press. LBI Art & Objects Collection, 78.1375.

E. M. Lilien - Lieder des Lebens — Illustration by E. M. Lilien for the "Lieder des Lebens" (or "Song of Life") section of Morris Rosenfeld's poetry collection *Lieder des Ghetto,* Berlin, 1902. LBI Library, q PJ 5129 R6 L5.

E. M. Lilien - portrait photo with signature — E. M. Lilien's portrait and signature, as featured in the book *E. M. Lilien, sein Werk, mit einer Einleitung von Stefan Zweig*, published in 1903. LBI Library Collection, q NE 654 L5 E4.

E. M. Lilien (1874-1925) was an internationally renowned Austrian printmaker, illustrator, and photographer. He is often considered the most prominent Jewish artist to be associated with Art Noveau or Jugendstil, a new international style coming out of the European Secession movement at the turn of the twentieth century. Lilien is particularly noted for his art on Jewish and Zionist themes. Variations on his name include Ephraim Mose Lilien, Ephraim Moses Lilien, and Ephraim Moshe Lilien.

Born in Drohobicz, Galicia (then part of the Austro-Hungarian empire) in 1874 in poor circumstances, E. M. Lilien's artistic inclinations became evident early in life. He became an apprentice for a sign-maker as a youth and subsequently attended the Academy of Art in Krakow, where he studied under Polish history painter Jan Matejko. In 1899 Lilien moved to Berlin, where he joined the artists' group Die Kommenden, which included Carl Busse, Stefan Zweig, and Börries Freiherr von Münchhausen. Lilien illustrated Münchhausen’s book Juda in 1900, with his soon-to-be characteristic Art Nouveau style.

Lilien then co-founded the Demokratisch-Zionistische Fraktion, a group that espoused Zionism as a way to cultural, political and economic renewal for Jews. In 1901, Lilien worked with Martin Buber to organize an exhibit of Jewish artists at the Fifth World Zionist Conference in Basel. Also in support of his Zionism beliefs, Lilien traveled four times to Palestine between 1906-1918, including a trip to Jerusalem in 1906 to assist Boris Schatz in founding the Bezalel Art School. He moved to Braunschweig, Germany in 1921 and died of a heart attack in 1925.

The Leo Baeck Institute Library has a comprehensive collection of books designed by E. M. Lilien, as well as periodicals such as Ost und West where Lilien provided illustrations. The Leo Baeck Institute also has several prints by Lilien in its art collection.

E. M. Lilien - Juda book cover — Cover from the book of poetry *Juda*, by Börries Freiherrn von Münchhausen, designed and illustrated by E. M. Lilien, dated 1897. LBI Library Collection, PT 2625 U71 J8.

E. M. Lilien - Sein Werk frontispiece — This image shows Lilien's characteristic Art Noveau stylization. It was featured as the frontispiece of the book *E. M. Lilien, sein Werk, mit einer Einleitung von Stefan Zweig*, published in 1903LBI Library Collection, q NE 654 L5 E4.

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