Lilien, Ephraim Moses

Austrian artist; born at Drohobicz, Galicia, in 1874. Lilien's artistic inclinations became evident early in life. He was apprenticed to a sign-maker, with whom he worked in return for meager board, and subsequently attended the academies of art in Cracow and Munich. He later removed to Berlin, where he is at present (1904) residing.

At first Lilien's work was deficient in individuality. Even "Der Zöllner von Klausen," one of the most admired of his earlier works, is vague, colorless, and feeble. Lilien began with the illustration of books and newspapers, but soon pushed himself to the front; a number of his earlier efforts appeared in the "Jugend" and in the "Vorwärts." His later productions, though not overladen with sentiment, are rich in pathetic touches. The best and most characteristic of his work is to be found in the book "Juda" (1900), which contains his "Jesaia," "Passach," and "Sodom's Ruinen." He illustrated also the "Lieder des Ghetto" of Morris Rosenfeld (1903). His "Gedenkblatt des Fünften Zionisten-Kongresses in Basel" has attracted wide attention. Other notable illustrations are: "Ex Libris E. M. Lilien," "Auf Zarten Saiten," "Der Jüdische Mai," "Ex Libris Ruben Brainin," "Ex Libris D. Simonson," "Ex Libris des Reichstagsabgeordneten R. Fischer," "Ein Salomonisches Urtheil," "In Rosenketten," "Heimatlos," "Chanukalichter," "Signet des Jüdischen Kunstverlages Phönix."

Bibliography:

  * Ost und West;
  * Jüdische Künstler;
  * The Maccabœan, March, 1904.



S. S. Led.