To organize in Hesed an exhibition of the graphic arts Ephraim Moses Lilien, Eugenia Karyakina, director of Republican Jewish library, should make the real investigation.

Everything began with that one of eight hundred readers got into conversation with Eugenia about medieval Jewish poetry. It has appeared that he has at home the old books of the beginning of century in German with verses of Ieghuda Galevi. Eugenia has persuaded him to show her rarity. And when she has seen and has thumbed through the book, in the greater degree she was struck, certainly, not with verses in foreign language, but surprising engravings, illustrating them.

It appeared that it was Ephraim Moses Lilien. The Jewish encyclopedia of 1902 of the edition has given out the avaricious information: there was such artist, who was born in Galicia, lived in Germany. The most known work was illustration to three-volume Bible. All this only raise her curiosity, and further searches begun.

- The information came literally on nuggets, - tells Eugenia Karyakina, - but it is said not in vain: "Ask and you will open". The life of this artist was developed before us, as rare scroll. He was in Russia, gave the albums to Gorky. Stefan Zweig mentions him in memoirs.

When Lilien was 50 years old, he was congratulated by Haym Weisman, the future president of Israel. In due time illustrations of the books have brought to him world glory, which then somehow imperceptibly gone on a loss. And a name Lilien know now only in Israel. Even in the Internet, whence we downloaded small amount of his works there almost were not data about him.

Ephraim Moses Lilien four times visited Palestine and during these travels collected types of the Jewish faces. He literally collected them. Because, despite of the European education, quiet life in Germany, in spite of the fact that he wrote and spoke in German, Ephraim Moses made by the main theme of the works life and life of the Jewish people. As the artist, he was the bright representative of modern in graphic arts, as the man - is sharp felt belonging to the people. In graphic sheets the symbols, mythical images and ceremonial subjects of the Jews are combined gloomy philosophy and allegoricity so inherent to Germany. After three Zionist congresses Lilien published series of cards, which passed worldwide. They till now are remembered by many habitues of the cultural centre in Almaty.

- I have one more dream, - tells Eugenia Karyakina, - we know, that the correspondence of Lilien with the wife Helena Magnus was kept in German. They had surprising history of love and very touching relations. Lilien during numerous trips wrote to her and with humor told about everything that sees. It would be wonderful to find and to translate these letters.

Lilien died in the prime of life - in 51 years old because of heard attack. He still had son Otto, which has made much for popularization of a heritage of the father. Pictures, which can even not to tell but sing so much about tragical destiny of the people. Pictures, which have surprising magic force.

- Why should I need all these searches and requests? - surprises Eugenia Karyakina. - But you see the library is not a dusty warehouse! Our task - is to open as much names and destinies as possible. Each poem, each picture, each musical fragment - all this is the history of the Jewish culture. Our library stands on it.

The musical-literary soiree, from which the acquaintance of Almaty dwellers with creation of Ephraim Moses Lilien, certainly began, decorated the verses, fixed on music, of the medieval poets, in performance of vocalist Tatiana Borshevskikh and pianist Helena Shalkova.

Xenia Evdokimova
(by materials of www.express.kz)