Jewish photographer's works donated to museum

Photographs by the late Jewish photographer Sam Sanzetti and related historical materials were recently added to the collection of the Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum.

Donated by the Consulate General of Israel in Shanghai, the additions include 597 original photos and 430 negatives, documents, newspapers and periodicals.

Sanzetti, whose real name was Sioma Lifshitz, arrived in Shanghai from Russia with his family in the 1920s and started a career as a photographer.

The city's Hongkou district was where an estimated 20,000 Jewish refugees sought sanctuary during World War II.

Sanzetti, who lived in Shanghai for more than 30 years, managed four photography studios and received recognition from residents, celebrities and government officials.

"He was famous during the time because of his ability to capture natural expressions and his superb lighting techniques, which helped reflect the love and friendship among people," said Chen Jian, curator of the museum, at the donation ceremony on Wednesday.

Chen said Sanzetti had colored some 20,000 black and white photos by hand to bring them to life.

Following his return to Israel in 1957, the photographer started missing the Chinese city and told a local newspaper that he had spent the best time of his life in Shanghai. He described it as a special, vibrant place where he could experience wonderful colors and scents, the museum said.

Sanzetti died in 1986, and his legacy lives on because of his stepson, who has preserved his works.

In October 2011, the Consulate General of Israel in Shanghai posted on its official Weibo account several of Sanzetti's photos in a bid to locate the people in the images. Six of the people in the photos were identified and the photos claimed.

A year later, an exhibition of some of Sanzetti's photos was held at the original site of one of the late photographer's studios in Shanghai, attracting 46,000 visitors.

"Sanzetti was not a refugee but a Jewish photographer who contributed to the cultural life in Shanghai during the 1920s and 1930s," said Edward Shapira, consul general of Israel in Shanghai.

"He loved Shanghai and its people, and his works are about the city, so the consulate hopes to fulfill his wishes. The Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum represents the friendship of the Chinese and Jewish people. This is the main Jewish address in Shanghai," he said.

The consulate will cooperate with the Shanghai Library to hold an exhibition of Sanzetti's works next year, which marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Israel, Shapira said.

caochen@chinadaily.com.cn