Balfour Street, 1923

New painting on a temporary loan

Rubin’s painting is titled “Balfour Street”  but the water-tower was and still stands on the adjacent Mazeh Street no. 36. It was designed by engineer Arpad Gut and provided water to the surrounding neighborhood. Standing on a limestone hill-top, it also served as pedestal-of-sorts for the Menorah lit annually on its top, to be seen from afar during the Hanuka holiday.

In the painting it is surrounded by little shacks, probably those of the “Balfour Compound” initially created as a tent compound. Following the Arab Riots of 1921, it was replaced by huts to house Jaffas’ Jewish inhabitants who escaped to Tel Aviv. Later the compound was dismantled, and the new Hadassah Hospital was built on its very site between Balfour and Mazeh streets.

In addition to the water-tower rising on the left side of the canvas, an electric pole is also evident.

The painting is on loan from a private collection in Tel Aviv.