Mordecai Moreh was born on November 15, 1937, in Baghdad into a wealthy Jewish family. The son of Abraham and Signora Moreh, he was the youngest of six children. From a very young age, he developed a passion for drawing and immersed himself in biblical stories, the Midrash, La Fontaine's Fables, Ovid's Metamorphoses, and later, The Arabian Nights. He was also interested in European masters such as Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Rembrandt.
During World War II, his family remained confined to their homes for fear of farhud, which reinforced his desire to emigrate to Israel. At the age of 14, he left Iraq for Israel and studied at the Bezalel School of Fine Arts and later at the Florence Academy of Fine Arts. In 1962, he settled permanently in Paris.
A drypoint engraver and painter, Moreh creates a bestiary of imaginary animals, often wounded or crucified, to denounce human cruelty and injustice. He also uses mixed media and layers of tempera and oil, in the tradition of the Old Masters. His life and work are also marked by a constant spiritual quest, combining commitment, memory, and contemplation.
