Sailing Toward a New Homeland – Iconic Pre-State Rare 1936 Zionist Aliyah Vintage Poster

$2,900.00

1 in stock

Zionist Consumer Culture Before the State

Original Poster, 1936

This striking original poster from 1936 was designed by Franz Kraus, one of the founding figures of modern graphic design in pre-state Palestine. Created for the Levant Fair (Yerid HaMizrach), the poster represents a moment when visual culture, commerce, and national aspiration converged into a powerful graphic language.

At the center of the composition appears a ship cutting through concentric waves, a clear and evocative symbol of movement, journey, and arrival. The imagery resonates deeply with the idea of Aliyah—immigration as hope, transition, and renewal—at a time when the future of the Jewish people in Europe was growing increasingly uncertain, just a few years before the outbreak of World War II.

Rather than functioning as a straightforward commercial advertisement, the “Aliyah” brand is presented here as part of a broader Zionist consumer culture—an effort to promote local production, economic independence, and a modern Hebrew identity. Today, the poster is best understood as a historical and cultural document, reflecting the ideals, optimism, and visual sophistication of the Yishuv period.

The Levant Fair – A Stage for the Zionist Vision

The Levant Fair was one of the most significant cultural and commercial events in Tel Aviv during the 1930s. It served as an international showcase for innovation, industry, design, and trade, positioning the emerging Hebrew city as a modern Mediterranean hub. Posters produced for the fair—such as this one—embodied progress, openness to the world, and confidence in a shared future.

About the Designer

Franz Kraus was among the most important designers active in Mandatory Palestine. His work combined European modernism with clarity, symbolism, and a refined graphic sensibility. Kraus’s contributions have been recognized in a retrospective exhibition at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, affirming his central role in the history of Israeli graphic design.

Technical Details

• Year: 1936

• Designer: Franz Kraus

• Technique: Lithographic print

• Size:100×70 cm

• Size in inches: 39 X 27  inches

• Origin: Levant Fair, Tel Aviv

• Condition: Original pre-state poster

A rare and thought-provoking work—where design, history, and Zionist vision meet, capturing the spirit of pre-state Israel through one of its most compelling visual artifacts.