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Graphic: purple color area with the green inscription: Lecture Series.

Approaching the “Orient” through pictures – the Life and Work of Jewish photographer Hermann Burchardt

Part of the Lecture Series The Imagined Orient (Part 2, video recording available, in German)

In the second talk of the lecture series The Imagined Orient, historian Stefan Litt (National Library of Israel) presents Hermann Burchardt’s unique biography, photographic work and reception up to the present day.

recording available

Map with all buildings that belong to the Jewish Museum Berlin. The W. M. Blumenthal Academy is marked in green

Where

W. M. Blumenthal Academy,
Klaus Mangold Auditorium
Fromet-und-Moses-Mendelssohn-Platz 1, 10969 Berlin
(Opposite the Museum)

Video recording from 8 Nov 2023; Jewish Museum Berlin, in German

The Jewish photographer and linguist Hermann Burchardt (1857–1909) was undoubtedly considered “exotic” among Jewish orientalists of his time. Over a period of seventeen years, he traveled through most Muslim countries, immortalizing people, cities and landscapes on thousands of photographic plates. The Jews of Yemen were a central part of his work, especially during his last trip in 1909.

The lecture series The Imagined Orient introduces ways of understanding German-Jewish and Israeli perspectives on the term “Orient” and explores its contradictory fantasies and realities within the spectrum of modern Jewish experiences.

The series takes us from the 18th century to the present over the course of six events as it presents various biographies, films, photographs, texts and art pieces.

A man with dark hair, glasses, in a suit and tie looks friendly into the camera.

Dr. Stefan Litt, photo: Yorai Liberman, Copyright: National Library of Israel

Graphic: purple color area with the green inscription: Lecture Series.

Lecture Series The Imagined Orient

Landing Page
Lecture Series The Imagined Orient: Information on the event series
Digital Content
“Orient” – A Magic Word? On the German-Jewish History of a Term: Lecture with Kathrin Wittler, video recording from 9 Oct 2023, in German
Current page: Approaching the “Orient” through pictures – the Life and Work of Jewish photographer Hermann Burchardt: Lecture with Stefan Litt, video recording from 8 Nov 2023, in German
From Yeshiva to Cairo: How Gustav Weil became a Pioneer in the Study of the Qur’an: Lecture with Susannah Heschel, video recording from 13 Dec 2023
A Time Machine Made of Glass – E.M. Lilien’s View of the Hebrew Orient in Moses (Design for a Glass Window): Lecture with Shelley Harten, video recording from 23 Jan 2024, in German
The Dream of a Jewish-Arab Orient: Writer M.Y. Ben-Gavriêl: Lecture with Sebastian Schirrmeister, video recording from 14 Feb 2024, in German
Events
The Unorthodox, Israel 2018: A feature film about the founding of the Shas Party: Film screening and discussion with Omar Kamil and Daniel Wildmann, 6 Mar 2024
See also
The W. Michael Blumenthal Academy of the Jewish Museum Berlin: A Platform and Laboratory for Diverse Perspectives

Where, when, what?

  • WhenWed 8  Nov 2023, 7 pm
  • Where W. M. Blumenthal Academy,
    Klaus Mangold Auditorium
    Fromet-und-Moses-Mendelssohn-Platz 1, 10969 Berlin
    (Opposite the Museum)
    See location on map
  • Entry fee

    6 € , reduced rate 3 €

  • Language German

Video Recordings: Watch Past Museum Events (77)

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