BENYOMEN KAPMAN

BENYOMEN KAPMAN (December 25, 1887-December 3, 1965)

            A painter and artist, he was born in Vitebsk.  In 1903 he emigrated to the United States.  He debuted in print in Dovid Ignatov’s Shriftn (Writings) with a mystical-philosophical poem and went on to published poetry and fantastic essays—all in an original style.  He wrote about Jewish artists for: Idisher kunst tsenter (Jewish art center), Frayhayt (Freedom), and Tsukunft (Future), also under the pen name Benvenu.  He added illustrations to a series of Yiddish books.  His images may be found in many museums.  He was a cofounder of the Jewish art section of the World Jewish Culture Congress.  He died in Teaneck, New Jersey.

Sources: Zalmen Reyzen, Leksikon, vol. 3; Sh. Raskin, in Tsukunft (New York) (March 1917); Y. Likhtenshteyn, Vitebsk amol (Vitebsk in the past) (New York, 1956), pp. 454-55; M. Krishtol, in Forverts (New York) (November 10, 1963); Yeshurin archive, YIVO (New York).

Dovid-Noyekh Miler