IO (Ioffe) Michael (Meyer) M. (Jo, Mihails Joffe)

18 июля 1893 (Vitebsk (?)) — 19 июля 1960 (Riga)

graphic artist of the theatre

From a large Jewish family; childhood spent in Vitebsk and Riga. In his youth was a pupil of the watchmaker, the painter's assistant. He studied at the School of drawing В. Блюма in Riga (1912-1914). Participant of the First world war.

he Lived in Riga, in 1938-1939 — in Lodz (Poland), in 1941-1945 — in Chelyabinsk. In 1930-х travelled to Poland, Lithuania, France, Denmark. In 1920-1937 draw for Riga periodicals. Created series of easel graphic works on motives of the story И. Л. Переца (1928-1930, watercolor, ink, pen), "Hungry" (1920-е, lithograph), "the Jews-труженики" (1930-е, etching), "Old Riga" (1930-1945, lithograph), "Ural motives" (1944-1945, ink, pen).

Studied scenography. Collaborated work in Riga and Riga Jewish theater, from the mid 1940-х — in the State Jewish theater in Moscow, in the second half of 1950-х — in the Riga theatre of Russian drama. Designed the play "Tevye-молочник" by Sholom-Алейхему (1957, together with М. А. Аболинем), "Typhoon" Cao-Юй (1958) and others. The author of the book "Theatre of pessimism".

he Exhibited his works at the international exhibition of Jewish artists-графиков in Tallinn (1939), exhibition of works by artists of the southern Urals in Chelyabinsk (1945). His personal exhibitions were held in Riga (1919, 1930).

In the late 1940-х was repressed; was imprisoned in Vorkuta. In 1956, rehabilitated.

he was Engaged in teaching.

Work is represented in several Museum collections, including the Museum in Riga theatre.