Walter Zadek

Self-taught photographer Walter Zadek was an important figure in the development of a distinctly Israeli visual culture. Zadek was born in Berlin, where he worked as a socialist journalist until 1933; he fled Germany after a month-long Nazi imprisonment. Settling in Tel Aviv, Zadek took an interest in photography, working as a freelance press photographer for close to fifteen years. During this time, he founded the Palestine Professional Photographers’ Association. His images document several important historical events of the period, including revolts, protests, and the establishment of kibbutzim. During World War II, Zadek opened a bookstore, where he worked through the rest of his career. In 2010, an exhibition of historical photography at the Israel Museum showcased his work.