'Hear, O Israel' by Joe Rose
Object numberM2023/006
Title'Hear, O Israel' by Joe Rose
Creator Joe Rose
DescriptionOil on canvas, untitled, undated, but likely from the 1970s, featuring a Star of David and swirling Hebrew letters forming the words of the prayer 'Shema Yisrael' - 'Hear, O Israel'. Work is signed at lower right corner; Joe Rose.
‘Shema Yisrael’ is the central affirmation of Judaism, expressing belief in monotheism – that there is only one God.
Joe Rose (1915-1999)
Hans-Joachim Rosenberg (Joe Rose) was born on 17 April 1915 into a cultured middle-class Jewish family in Woldenberg, Germany (now Poland). He was spiritual rather than deeply religious, according to his daughter Jacqueline.
He was the only surviving member of his family – his parents and sister were murdered in Auschwitz.
In 1933, at the age of 18, Joe was imprisoned in Sonnenburg concentration camp as a result of anti-Nazi activities. His artistic abilities helped to get him released. In 1938, three days after his marriage, he was again arrested and incarcerated in Buchenwald. His wife Regina managed to have him released, and they escaped to England.
Joe Rose found refuge in Kitchener camp near Sandwich, Kent. Regina found a position as a domestic worker. He joined the British army and served in the Pioneer Corps, where he worked in the stores sorting supplies for the troops. During that time their three children were born.
After the war, Rose studied art and gained a diploma from the International Correspondence School. At first, he struggled to earn a living: “No one wanted to give me employment because I spoke with an accent.” Eventually he became a display manager for Vogue, working as a window dresser/display artist for department stores, and painting the window signs. This experience probably explains the graphic design elements in many of his paintings.
In 1957, the Roses emigrated to Australia. Rose pursued his ambition to become a fine artist. He had private art lessons with the well-known Jewish artist Maximilian Feuerring. “Then I forgot what I learned and started my own style”, the artist described in his Shoah Foundation testimony. Though he painted in a variety of styles, Rose preferred to be viewed as a mystic exploring the unexplorable.
During the 1960s he had exhibitions and entered many competitions, receiving 26 awards – 11 of which were first prizes. His work was hung in the Archibald, Wynne, Blake and Sulman prizes. In 1971, he was awarded the coveted British Empire Medal for Services to Art (BEM). He died in Tasmania in 1999.
His first paintings were “very black”, “full of bones”. He describes, “it took me a few years till I worked everything out of my system.” From paintings of the Warsaw ghetto to a painting in memory of his father who was a German soldier in World War 1 and murdered by the Germans in World War II. The depiction of a red rose (arising from his name) features on some works. He also painted portraits (with a good likeness to the sitters); numerous paintings feature letters of the Hebrew alphabet and explore aspects of the Kabballah (Jewish mysticism) – something that he became fascinated with on a visit to Jerusalem.
‘Shema Yisrael’ is the central affirmation of Judaism, expressing belief in monotheism – that there is only one God.
Joe Rose (1915-1999)
Hans-Joachim Rosenberg (Joe Rose) was born on 17 April 1915 into a cultured middle-class Jewish family in Woldenberg, Germany (now Poland). He was spiritual rather than deeply religious, according to his daughter Jacqueline.
He was the only surviving member of his family – his parents and sister were murdered in Auschwitz.
In 1933, at the age of 18, Joe was imprisoned in Sonnenburg concentration camp as a result of anti-Nazi activities. His artistic abilities helped to get him released. In 1938, three days after his marriage, he was again arrested and incarcerated in Buchenwald. His wife Regina managed to have him released, and they escaped to England.
Joe Rose found refuge in Kitchener camp near Sandwich, Kent. Regina found a position as a domestic worker. He joined the British army and served in the Pioneer Corps, where he worked in the stores sorting supplies for the troops. During that time their three children were born.
After the war, Rose studied art and gained a diploma from the International Correspondence School. At first, he struggled to earn a living: “No one wanted to give me employment because I spoke with an accent.” Eventually he became a display manager for Vogue, working as a window dresser/display artist for department stores, and painting the window signs. This experience probably explains the graphic design elements in many of his paintings.
In 1957, the Roses emigrated to Australia. Rose pursued his ambition to become a fine artist. He had private art lessons with the well-known Jewish artist Maximilian Feuerring. “Then I forgot what I learned and started my own style”, the artist described in his Shoah Foundation testimony. Though he painted in a variety of styles, Rose preferred to be viewed as a mystic exploring the unexplorable.
During the 1960s he had exhibitions and entered many competitions, receiving 26 awards – 11 of which were first prizes. His work was hung in the Archibald, Wynne, Blake and Sulman prizes. In 1971, he was awarded the coveted British Empire Medal for Services to Art (BEM). He died in Tasmania in 1999.
His first paintings were “very black”, “full of bones”. He describes, “it took me a few years till I worked everything out of my system.” From paintings of the Warsaw ghetto to a painting in memory of his father who was a German soldier in World War 1 and murdered by the Germans in World War II. The depiction of a red rose (arising from his name) features on some works. He also painted portraits (with a good likeness to the sitters); numerous paintings feature letters of the Hebrew alphabet and explore aspects of the Kabballah (Jewish mysticism) – something that he became fascinated with on a visit to Jerusalem.
SubjectAustralian art, artists
Object namepaintings
Dimensions
- width: 1535.00 mm
height: 1535.00 mm
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection