Fiszel Zylberberg, most commonly known as Zber (23 June 1909 – 26 October 1942) was a Jewish artist, best known for his work in xylography (woodcut engraving).
Zber was said to be a young artist who was a genius of the graphic arts, so much so that his style was known to have a "lyricism drawn from life itself." His masterpieces are now represented in the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, the Tel-Aviv Museum, the Museum of Modern art in Haifa, the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris, and in many other reputable art museums.
Hailed as a ‘poet of his generation’, Zber's artwork encapsulated all that was around him.
Sadly, Zber was captured while working in Paris and was sent to the Auschwitz extermination camp, where he was murdered in the prime of his career.
Although his career was short-lived, Zber’s artwork left an indelible mark that speaks to the life and conditions of early 20th century Europe, with great historical relevance.
Although most of his creations were destroyed by the Nazis, 39 of his woodcuts (plates) were found after the liberation of Paris, and are now housed in the Safed Museum of the Printing Art in Israel.
An album of Zber's surviving woodcuts was published in 1971.