The style of his work  (refined but vigorous compared to the work of contemporaries ) has earned him a place in the pantheon of the best of 20th-century graphic designers. In acknowledging his power as a propagandist, he claimed, “I wind the spring, and the public, in looking at the poster, will have that spring released in its mind.” Because of the length of his career – over six decades – his work is essentially a record of the era’s social history. Some of Britain’s most iconic images include those by Games. An example is the “Join the ATS” poster of 1941, nicknamed the “blonde bombshell” recruitment poster. His work is recognized for its “striking color, bold graphic ideas, and beautifully integrated typography”

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Jean David was a painter and designer, known for his contributions to the Romanian avant-garde and to the early modernist art of Israel (then recently founded)
He has studied between 1927 and 1937 at various art academies in Paris. In 1929 he participated for the first time at a collective exhibition in Bucharest and in 1933 he had his first personal exhibition (in the same city). In the early ’30s he was a member of the Surrealist group “unu” (meaning “one”). In 1942, he has left Romania in a boat with 12 other Jews, including Theodor Brauner, the brother of Victor Brauner. After being captured by British authorities in Cyprus, he managed to reach Palestrina in 1944. Together with Marcel Janco, he founded in Israel the artist village known as Ein Hod. He also gained much reputation as a muralist and especially designer, having designed numerous posters and other works for the El Al air company.

Jean David was born in Bucharest, the capital of Romania, in a wealthy family.

In 1927 he went to Paris to study architecture, but moved to painting studies at the École de Beauzar in Paris, continuing in the same city at the Scandinavian Academy in Montparnasse and from 1927 to 1933 at the Julian Academy. In 1929 he first took part in a group exhibition in Bucharest, and in 1933 he presented a first solo exhibition. Operate in Dada circle returning from Switzerland. At the time, he painted, among other things, portraits, known as “The Woman with Braided Braids” and actress Lena Keller’s image, influenced by Modilliani. He worked for avant-garde journals, such as Sasha Panna’s “Unu”, whose book “The Imaginary Life of God” illustrated. In 1937, together with Stephane Konstantinosco, he created a fresco for the Romanian Pavilion at the World Exhibition in Paris and in 1939 he painted a mural at the Romanian Pavilion at the World Exhibition in New York.

In 1935, he spent nine months in Haifa on campaign trips in Israel, Egypt and Corfu. In 1942, along with 12 other Jews (including Theodore Browner, my brother Victor Browner) boarded a small illegal immigration ship captured by the British off the coast of Lebanon, and spent two years in a detention camp on Cyprus. In 1944 he was released and enlisted in the British Navy. When the State of Israel was founded, he joined the Israeli Navy.

After the War of Independence, he lived in Jerusalem and made close friendships with Dan Ben Amotz, and illustrated his joint book and Chaim Hefer, “The Schoolbag of Fakes” and Ben Amotz’s book, “How to Do What.” Married to Susie, a stewardess at El Al, author of the Spanish Kitchen cookbook. In 1954, he was one of the founders of the Ein Hod Artists Village.

Participated in the first three exhibitions of the New Horizons group at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art and the Jerusalem Artists’ House. He also won a solo exhibition at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art. In 1960 he won the Dizengoff Award for the art of painting and sculpture.

Among his works: a series of Bible Land posters to encourage tourism to Israel, the Independence Day poster and other posters, postage stamps, [1] interior design for the first Boeing 707 aircraft of El Al, Passover Haggadah design [2] and ballot boxes Playing for El Al, [3] decorative walls in ZIM passenger ships, works in hotels and universities in Israel, and creating backdrops for chamber theater and more.

David was the first Israeli designer to be selected as a member of the International Graphics Association (AGI).

Jean David was a painter and designer, known for his contributions to the Romanian avant-garde and to the early modernist art of Israel (then recently founded).

He has studied between 1927 and 1937 at various art academies in Paris. In 1929 he participated for the first time at a collective exhibition in Bucharest and in 1933 he had his first personal exhibition (in the same city). In the early ’30s he was a member of the Surrealist group “unu” (meaning “one”). In 1942, he has left Romania in a boat with 12 other Jews, including Theodor Brauner, the brother of Victor Brauner. After being captured by British authorities in Cyprus, he managed to reach Palestrina in 1944. Together with Marcel Janco, he founded in Israel the artist village known as Ein Hod. He also gained much reputation as a muralist and especially designer, having designed numerous posters and other works for the El Al air company.

Vintage tourism poster calling people to visit the Israeli city Ashkelon, another beautiful city located next to the Israeli sea shore.
The poster depicts a tourist in the image of the hero Samson between the two pillars

Ashkelon was the oldest and largest seaport in Canaan, part of the pentapolis (a grouping of five cities) of the Philistines, north of Gaza and south of Jaffa.

El Al Israel Airlines is not just a national airline; it’s a symbol of the birth and growth of the State of Israel. The airline’s story began in 1948, when the Israeli government needed to bring home President Chaim Weizmann and his wife Vera from Switzerland in a stately manner. They chose a C-54 plane from the Israeli Air Force, which they named “El Al” inspired by the biblical phrase meaning “to the skies.” And thus, the national airline of Israel was born.

The poster you are looking at was created in 1951 when El Al had just begun its journey toward becoming one of the most advanced and efficient airlines in the world. The poster represents the spirit of El Al and the Israeli people’s determination to soar to new heights despite the challenges they faced.

This poster is not just a beautiful piece of art; it’s a part of history. It represents El Al’s early days when the airline was still finding its wings. It was a time when El Al pilots and cabin crew participated in the airlift of almost 47,000 Yemenite Jews and 3,000 Habbanim Jews from the Arabian Peninsula to Israel. It was a time when El Al became the first visible symbol of a new life of freedom for 113,000 Iraqi immigrants.

The poster is a testament to the airline’s resilience, which was put to the test during the 1956 War. Every foreign airline immediately canceled all flights to and from Israel, but El Al flew passengers in and out of the country, proving that only El Al can be relied upon at any time to continue air service.

The poster captures the essence of El Al’s journey from its humble beginnings to becoming a major international carrier. It represents the airline’s commitment to excellence and innovation, which led them to purchase new aircraft such as the Lockheed Constellation and the Boeing 707. El Al broke several world records during this period, including the fastest flight, the first nonstop service on the New York/Tel Aviv route, and the world’s longest nonstop commercial flight.

Owning this poster is not just a way to decorate your home or office; it’s a way to own a piece of history. It’s a reminder of El Al’s journey and the Israeli people’s determination to soar to new heights against all odds