Comical figurine of a Jewish soldier, Austro-Hungarian Army
Extent and Medium
overall: Height: 7.625 inches (19.368 cm) | Width: 1.875 inches (4.763 cm) | Depth: 1.750 inches (4.445 cm)
Creator(s)
- Peter Ehrenthal (Compiler)
Biographical History
The Katz Ehrenthal Collection is a collection of more than 900 objects depicting Jews and antisemitic and anti-Jewish propaganda from the medieval to the modern era, in Europe, Russia, and the United States. The collection was amassed by Peter Ehrenthal, a Romanian Holocaust survivor, to document the pervasive history of anti-Jewish hatred in Western art, politics and popular culture. It includes crude folk art as well as pieces created by Europe's finest craftsmen, prints and periodical illustrations, posters, paintings, decorative art, and toys and everyday household items decorated with depictions of stereotypical Jewish figures.
Archival History
The figurine was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2016 by the Katz Family.
Acquisition
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of the Katz Family
Funding Note: The cataloging of this artifact has been supported by a grant from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany.
Scope and Content
Comical bronze figurine of a young, not especially promising, Jewish soldier. He appears to wear an Austro-Hungarian Army uniform, post-1908 Hechtgrau [pike gray] issue. The figurine was likely made a few years after this or in the early months of World War I (1914-1918). The figurine is one of more than 900 items in the Katz Ehrenthal Collection of antisemitic artifacts and visual materials.
Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions on access
Conditions Governing Reproduction
No restrictions on use
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Heavy, cast bronze figurine of a young Jewish soldier in a military uniform. He stands at attention with his legs shoulder width apart in a pigeon toed stance, arms at his sides, back straight, and stomach out. But his head tilts to the right and his right shoulder slopes downward. His detailed features include big, protruding ears, bags around his eyes, a large, bell shaped nose, puffed out cheeks, and thick, but shapely, lips. He wears a tall, cylindrical, field service cap with a short brim, 2 buttons, and a badge. His wrinkled, uniform jacket has 4 large buttons and a high, split collar. His trousers have a quatrefoil on the top thigh, side piping, and appear to end at the top of his laced ankle boots. Two pouches and a dagger are attached to the belt. He stands on a square base with an irregular surface.
Subjects
- Antisemitism in art.
- Jewish soldiers--Caricatures and cartoons.
- Jews--Caricatures and cartoons.
- Jews in art.
Genre
- Decorative Arts
- Object