Illustrated Leaf with Four lines Handwritten by Haim Nachman Bialik – 1931 – Souvenir from his Visit to one of the ...

Illustrated Leaf with Four lines Handwritten by Haim Nachman Bialik – 1931 – Souvenir from his Visit to one of the Jewish Communities in Eastern Europe, during a Trip to Promote Hebrew Literature
A leaf illustrated in ink and watercolor, with four lines handwritten and signed by Haim Nachman Bialik. [Lvov?], November 8, 1931.
In the center of the leaf appears a saying about education, in Bailik's handwriting: "Education is a daily war against the instinct, a war against evil in life, the teacher is a warrior. A teacher who is dragged after life – is not fulfilling his vocation" (Hebrew). Signed: "H. N. Bialik" and dated 8.11.1931. A frame is drawn around the text, divided into four rectangles, with a different illustration in each one: top rectangle – a pair of deer supporting a Star of David, decorated with flowers and leaves; bottom rectangle – a seven branched Menorah with decorations of flowers, leaves and two birds; left rectangle – a young man wearing a pioneer's clothes leading a long line of Jews in traditional garments; right rectangle – two pioneers on the background of fruit trees, a plow and a Palestinian view. Signed in the bottom: "EK".
This leaf was written during Bialik's journey to Europe, to promote Hebrew literature, between the months of September 1931 and February 1932. During this journey Bialik visited eighteen Jewish communities, speaking in kindergartens and schools and enjoying a gracious reception wherever he arrived. In an issue of the newspaper "Lemberger Tagblat" from 10.11.1931 appears an item about Bialik's visit to Lvov several days earlier, and presumably this leaf was created during this visit.
Approx. 31X26 cm. Attached to a thick-paper passé-par-tout (worn and damaged) with adhesive tape on the back. Frame: approx. 37X30.5 cm. Fair-good condition. Stains and blemishes. Peelings (affecting illustrations, mostly small).