Name/Title
"Arab Woman of Ramallah, Near Jerusalem" (1957)Entry/Object ID
2021.012.001Tags
On ViewDescription
Object 2012.012(1-6) is a six-part series of illustrations produced by Susan Southby, titled "Costumes of the Holy Land" and signed in pencil. The illustrations use pochoir (French: “stencil”), and is distinguished from ordinary stenciling by a highly refined technique of making fine limited editions of stencil prints. The six costumes reproduced by Southby were included among a collection of thirty or more traditional dresses worn by Palestinian girls at a pageant in Beirut, organized by the Women's Auxiliary of the United Nations Relief Works Agency for Palestine Refugees intended to raise funds for charity. Southby produced the illustrations in the 1940s, published and distributed the drawings in 1953 by Dar Al-Maaret of Beirut, and the accompanying publication, also titled "Costumes of the Holy Land" was published in 1953 (1st edition) and 1957 (2nd edition).
Southby illustrated 3,080 copies by hand, the first 250 bear the numbers "One" to "Two Hundred and Fifty", written in words, and the drawings are signed in pencil by the artist and mounted, ready for framing. The succeeding 2,750 bear the numbers 251-3,000 written in Arabic numerals, the artists signature printed and are unmounted. The remaining 80 bear the numbers MMMI to MMMLXXX written in Roman figures, and were not for sale -- they bear the artists signature (printed) and are also unmounted. The second edition of the book does not indicate how many prints were produced, however it is likely that this set belongs to the second edition as they continue authentic stenciling technique on paper, and are not a reproduction, however are numbered in English numerals (i.e. "2 Arab Woman of Ramallah Near Jerusalem").
The illustration is numbered 2, and titled "Arab Woman of Ramallah, Near Jerusalem". Red embroidery on white linen was typical of the Ramallah regional styles in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, however it is also one of the oldest styles of the region throughout the centuries.
The typical Ramallah thobe of the early 20th century consisted of a white dress embroidered in red and black at the chest, skirt and sleeves, while the density of embroidery varied from one thobe to the other depending on the occasion. The thobe was belted with Syrian striped silk, while they wore a bonnet called Wuqaya that is also embroidered and lined with coins. With it an embroidered white scarf called a Khirqa was draped over the Wuqaya. Whether or not the title is true, that the thobe of Ramallah featured here is from "near Jerusalem", is questionable, as the style presented in the illustration could be worn by Ramallah women regardless of their proximity to Jerusalem.
A photograph from the 1950s archived in the Palestinian Museum Digital Archive, Object 0334.01.0401, features the same illustration.Collection
Permanent CollectionMade/Created
Date made
1957Time Period
20th CenturyPlace
Historical Region
Palestine (Historic)Continent
AsiaDimensions
Dimension Description
May be larger in frame.Height
16-1/8 inWidth
10-1/4 inGeneral Notes
Note
Courtesy Nidal and Melissa Jarrard-Mahayni Collection