Emanuel Luftglas was born in 1896 in Poland.
When he was 13 years old, a German art patron saw his paintings and presuaded Luftglas parents to permit their son to move to Germany and study art. Luftglas attended art school in Leipzig, later completeing his studies in theatrical design in Buxdehude School.
In 1915, at the age of 19 years old, he obtained his first contract from the Royal Opera House in Hamburg. In 1925 he returned to Poland, joined the Zionist movement and in 1926 he immigrated to Palestine.
On Luftglas's arrival to Palestine he joined the troupe which founded the "T.A.Y" (Israel Artisitic Theatre). Later on he was among the founders of the Matate Theatre and the permanent stage designer of this satirical group.
At the same time he worked with the "Ohel Theatre" and designed sets for a number of plays, particulary "Sodom".
He also Designed the sets for more than 30 plays for the Habimah National Theatre and for the Israeli Opera House of that time, under the directorship of Golinkin.
During this time he continued to paint oils. The scenery of the country and its soft color tones fascinated him but he felt that the means at his disposal were insufficient to express the special atmosphere of the "land of the Bible" as he saw it.
He found the solution in the painting technique of Van-Eyck, a technique which enables to bring out the more delicate palettes through the use of oils.
Luftglas studied the technique that was practiced by the painters of the Renaissance period. By experimenting over a period of years and after studying the available material on the process of painting in oils, he came to certain conclusions regarding the secret process of painting practiced by the Van-Eyck guild.
He decided to publish his conclusions and devoted his final years to writing a book wherein he described his findings.
It was Luftglas's intention to publish this book and to hold an exhibition of his paintings as completion to the book. This was never achieved; He managed to complete the manuscript but died before he had the opportunity either to publish it or to arrange the exhibition.
Emanuel Luftglas died in 1958, leaving behind him hundreds of sketches for theatre in watercolor and pastel, that he drew during his 30 years of work for the stage, as well as many paintings in oil.
In 1964, his book ("Van-Eyck und Vasari - Im Lichte Neuer Tatsachen" - "Van-Eyck and Vasari - In The Light Of New Facts") was published by his daughter and widow.
After he died his oils were presented in two exhibitions, in Alcharizi - Tel Aviv Artists Pavilion (1964) and in Ariela Library (1978). Some of his designs for theatre were presented in a few exhibitions of theatre design in Israel. |
