Abraham Mintchine lived in Berlin between 1923 and 1925. This corresponds to a period during which there was great artistic and cultural ferment in the German capital. Mintchine took part in the then vibrant artistic community which included Expressionist as well as New Objectivity painters, writers, poets and filmmakers. Here Mintchine had an exhibition which reportedly showed 47 artworks in the Avant-Garde style. Unfortunately, none of these artworks have been identified even until today. It is in Berlin that, in contact with other German painters, young Abraham progresses toward figurative art. This would eventually bring him to repudiate his Russian years and make deep impressions, in a figurative style for which he is mostly known nowadays, in the Ecole de Paris circle.
Mintchine closely collaborated with the Jewish Theatre of Berlin
However, during this Berlin period Mintchine also closely collaborated with the Jewish Theatre of Berlin. Also known as the “Jüdisches Kulturbund Theater” or the “Jüdisches Theater Berlin,” it was a theatre company established in Berlin, Germany, during the 1920s. It was founded in 1924 and operated until 1938, when it was forcibly closed by the Nazis as part of their anti-Semitic policies.
During its brief existence, the Jewish Theatre of Berlin played an important role in the cultural life of the Jewish community in Berlin, providing a platform for Jewish artists and performers who were otherwise marginalised or excluded from mainstream theatres due to anti-Semitic restrictions. The theatre staged productions of plays, operas, and other performances that reflected the Jewish cultural heritage and addressed contemporary social and political issues.
In 1924 and 1925, the Jewish Theatre of Berlin would have been in its early years, establishing itself as a cultural institution within the Jewish community in Berlin. It would have faced challenges and restrictions imposed by anti-Semitic laws and policies of the time, including censorship, financial difficulties, and social discrimination. However, despite these challenges, the theatre managed to stage productions and provide a platform for Jewish artists and performers to express themselves and contribute to the rich cultural tapestry of Berlin.
The fate of the Jewish Theatre of Berlin changed dramatically after the rise of the Nazis to power in 1933
Mintchine collaborated with the Jewish Theatre of Berlin, designing various costumes and helping to refine scenographies. Lately, a number of documents, pictures of costumes and scenes, as well as newspaper articles highlighting these collaborations, have been rediscovered by Sarah Edelson. These are published by the society for the first time and we heartily thank Sarah for bringing them to light.
It’s important to note that the fate of the Jewish Theatre of Berlin changed dramatically after the rise of the Nazis to power in 1933. In 1938, as part of the systematic persecution of Jews in Nazi Germany, the theatre was forcibly closed, and many of its members were arrested or forced to flee the country. The theatre’s closure marked a dark chapter in the history of Jewish culture in Berlin and a tragic loss to the artistic and cultural landscape of the city.