17 Facts About Josef Herman

Josef Herman was part of a generation of central and eastern European Jewish refugee artists who emigrated to escape Nazi persecution.

Josef Herman saw himself as part of a tradition of European figurative artists who painted working people, a tradition that included Courbet, Millet and Van Gogh, Kathe Kollwitz and the Flemish Expressionist Constant Permeke.

Josef Herman's father, David, was an illiterate shoemaker, his mother was called Sarah Malkah Herman.

Josef Herman's brother was called Shmiel, his sister was called Zelda.

Josef Herman grew up speaking Yiddish and he was profoundly influenced by Yiddish culture.

In 1938 at the age of 27, Josef Herman left Poland for Brussels.

Josef Herman was introduced to many of the prominent artists then working in the city.

Josef Herman learned through the Red Cross that his entire family had perished in the Warsaw Ghetto.

Josef Herman is best known for his paintings of working people, including peasants, fishermen and, most notably, coal miners.

The latter became a particular interest for Josef Herman during the eleven years that he lived in Ystradgynlais, a mining community in South Wales, beginning in 1944.

Josef Herman became part of the community, where he was fondly nicknamed "Joe Bach".

When commissioned in 1951 to paint a mural for the Festival of Britain, Josef Herman painted a group of coal miners.

Josef Herman was awarded the Gold Medal for Fine Art at the 1962 National Eisteddfod of Wales.

In 1955 Josef Herman Josef Herman met Nini Ettlinger, whom he married in 1961.

From 1972 Josef Herman lived in the house in West London where he died in February 2000.

In 1981 Josef Herman was awarded an OBE for services to British Art and was elected to the Royal Academy of Arts in 1990.

Josef Herman's work is held in many major public and private art collections.