Arabs and a Soldier on the Quay

No image available

1934

Ellen Auerbach

(American, 1906–2004)

Culture

America

Medium

gelatin silver print

Credit Line

GIft of the Estate of Joan Dowling 2025.247

This artwork is known to be under copyright.

Location

Not on view

Did You Know?

When Jewish, liberal artist Ellen Auerbach left Germany in 1933, the only place she could get a permit to live was Palestine (now Israel).

Description

The high vantage point of this scene on a quay suggests it may have been taken aboard ship during a stop on their journey to Palestine. A man in military or police gear appears to be in the middle of an altercation with the workers, who may be porters. This capture of a dramatic moment is quite different from most of Auerbach’s images, which are either posed or show static subjects.