In 1920, my great grandfather, Tewfic Issa Habesch, founded The Commercial Printing Press in Jerusalem, Palestine. The press produced print material for a range of businesses and projects, locally and internationally, notably designing and printing the first university diploma in Palestine for Berzeit University. The Commercial Press maintained operation for exactly 100 years, finally closing its doors in 2020 due to rising taxes and restrictions imposed by the Israeli government on Palestinian businesses.

The business lived in three buildings throughout its existence. It began inside a small building in the Old City of Jerusalem. The press then upgraded to a large warehouse with brand new equipment in Mamilla, though operations never took place there and everything was stolen by occupiers after the Nakba. The final iteration of the press opened just outside Herod’s Gate to the Old City. There, it was run by the sons, daughters, and grandchildren of Tewfic Habesch until its closure. 

At 9 years old, I visited the press for the first time; then once more at 19. I am a painter; when I work, I feel the energy of Jerusalem around me and the spirit of my family moving through me. This installation extends the life of The Commercial Press and preserves its energy of resilience, having endured the hardships of censorship and occupation.

This map, “Jerusalem Upon Your Palm”, is an original document from the press dating back to 1952. This painting is from my Habesch hands, the three locations glaring on the golden streets of Jerusalem. Through the preservation of The Commercial Press, I continue my family’s story without censorship.

2026

Acrylic on panel

2026

Assemblage of sourced material: Typeset tray and letter press blocks

1952

Original map of Jerusalem from The Commercial Press