Painter (1854-1937). He was born on May 24, 1854 (June 5) in Novoaleksandrovsk (Zarasai, Lithuania) in a poor Jewish family which had many children. Being a 4 year old boy he was left without a father. At an early age he showed his ability in drawing: when he had free time he painted letters in books, drew title pages of local religious publications, as well as portraits of inhabitants. Yehuda’s passion for drawing was not supported by the family. But about the gifted boy finds out a distant relative, and at the end of 1867 Y. Pen goes to Dinaburg (Daugavpils) to study signs of the artist and spends here 11 years. In Dinaburg he meets Pumpjanska family, in which often stay outstanding artists of the city. One student of the Russian Academy of Arts in Saint Petersburg, a frequent guest in the Pumpjanska family, encourages Yehuda to join the Academy of Arts.
In 1879 Y. Pen goes to Saint Petersburg, from 1880 to 1886 studies in the Academy of Arts. Then he returns to search for a job in Novoaleksandrovsk, Dvinsk then moves to Riga, where he gets acquainted with the Baron N. Korf, which invites the young artist to his estate near Vitebsk (Belarus). The estate is often visited by the outstanding artists I. Repin, J. Klever etc.
In 1891 he moves to Vitebsk and a year later opens the first private drawing and art school, which works until 1919. Y. Pen was the first professional artist of the Jewish origin. His students were such outstanding painters as Ilya Mazel, Joseph Cadkin, Marc Chagall, Jefim Minin, Solomon Judovin etc. In 1927 in Vitebsk the 30 year anniversary of artist’s work was celebrated. Y. Pen was awarded the Honorary Title of Jewish Art Worker.
On March 1, 1937 at night the artist tragically died, circumstances of the death up to this time have not been found out.
After the death of Y. Pen in Vitebsk the gallery of his pictures was created. His works are also in the Belarusian National Arts Museum in Minsk.
Y. Pen in the professional painting manner saved liveliness which is characteristic for a primitive artist – it is a model of fondly sincere, optimistic life. He was painting portraits – classical, realistic, balanced and spiritual – an old tailor, a blind old man, a shoemaker etc.
Connection with Daugavpils: he studied and worked in Dinaburg (Daugavpils) with the signboard artist for 11 years.