The depth and history of Jewish artwork can easily compete with any other culture’s. There is a presence of Jewish art seemingly on every continent on the planet. This is of course because Judaism has such a wide reach and the spiritual stirring of Judaism is custom-built to be shared through artistic expression. In practically every discipline and subsection of art there is a Jewish imprint. A tour through the history of any and all art forms from impressionism to rap music, from sculpture to stand-up you will find at least a handful of vitally significant Jewish artists. The spreading of this culture has had a great effect on all art and on the general acceptance of Jewish culture throughout the planet.

Art is a great communicator for everybody. The Jewish people are hardly the first religious, racial or cultural group to utilize their sensitivity to art to further their cause. African-Americans did the same thing in the 50’s and 60’s. For the Jewish people Jewish art was a way to make their culture which for many seemed quite different seem not so far removed. The work of pioneering comedians on the Vaudeville circuit did a lot of the heavy lifting in sewing Judaism into the stitch-work that built the United States of America.

These days contemporary Jewish art is all over the place. A wide array of younger “pop” artists utilize both traditional elements of Judaism within their modern artistic modes. It is a great way to include a lot of different people, educating them about the specifics of Jewish culture and perhaps correcting for some untrue stereotypes in the process. It is a fantastic way to make everyone feel more at ease and understanding of the Jewish people and assures that the work has a greater impact than simply looking cool.

Contemporary Jewish art is always happening. It almost seems like an absurdly obvious thing to say. Anyone who has been to a gallery of note, turned on their television or listened to the radio has heard, seen and experienced a wide variety of Jewish art for themselves every time they have done these things. It is the magnificent nature of America that through these measures and this sort of work a people can become a significant part of the conversation. With the help of art Jewish people have been able to enter the worlds of business and politics. As in many cultural shifts art is used to grease the wheels and make everyone more comfortable with different cultures. Then things become a lot fairer for everyone.

The work of Jewish artists who make must-have pieces of contemporary Jewish art are currently available at very affordable prices. The theme of contemporary modern Jewish art [http://www.jewishpopartblog.com/] mixed with old world traditions is quickly growing in popularity.

Many believe that the very term “Jewish Art” is contradictory to itself – How can art be Jewish? They wonder. This perception derives from the awareness to the explicit prohibition mentioned in the Ten Commandments: “Thou shall not make for yourself a carved image–any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.’.

Jewish Art- forbidden?
However, seeing this forbiddance as block that necessarily prevents art from being created is wrong – not only that the commandment can be interpreted in many ways (for example, the prohibition might concern the obligation not to bow before any image, sculpture, idol or figure and not relate to the actual forming of a sculpture or image) but even when it was understood in its more radical sense, the Jewish people did create many kinds of Jewish art and even placed their creations between the synagogue’s walls and on their sacred books. Flexibility and tolerance towards man or animal shaped figures (on stamp rings, public baths and coins) is witnessed in many places in the Talmud and it is known that there were Rabbis who permitted synagogue paintings, even though there were some who were against it, together with the Christian opposites, who were also objecting to any kind of images or to using man or animal shaped objects.

Jewish art throughout history
Due to the variation in approaches, Jewish Art has progressed throughout the years, spreading in synagogues, sacred books, tombstones and people’s homes. Jewish artists kept reviving the biblical stories, creating drawings and relief works dedicated to significant historical or mythical events such as God’s revelation to Samuel, the creation of the world, Ezekiel’s vision of dry bones etc. Even before the Jewish emancipation and the bloom of the Enlightenment movement (Haskalah) Jewish artists specialized in drawing portraits, while it is known that one Jewish tutor from the 17th century advised every man to carry a portrait of their mother as a protection from the evil nature’s temptations.

How to define Jewish art?
It was in the middle of the 19th Century that acclaimed Jewish artists like Pissarro, Israels and Liberman broke into the wide world’s recognition. Since then and due to the general art’s influence on Jewish artists, culture scholars try to define what is Jewish art exactly: Is Jewish art made by anyone who is Jewish or perhaps art that deals with Jewish themes. Whether you relate more to the first or second definition, you are likely to discover in both a vast world of talent, craftsmanship and inspiration, all nursing from the Jewish foundations rooted 3000 years deep into human history.

Odelya is a content editor of several Jewish web sites and a specializes in Israeli and Jewish art and culture. Visit us at Jewish Art Today [http://www.jewisharttoday.com]

Jewish art is a mixture of vibrancy and history coated with supreme taste of creativity. Most, if not all, the art pieces are untainted depiction’s of the Jewish nation’s vivid culture and ways of life.

Way back years ago, Jewish art revolved around Jewish music and literature. Visual art was not wholeheartedly entertained for the Jewish and was considered as “graven images”. This was not until the 18th century when a sudden growth of Jewish visual artists flaunted their visual artworks and was surprisingly appreciated by their people.

Amedeo Modigliani is one of the pioneering graphical artists of the 18th century who came from a Jewish family. His works include Gypsy Woman with Baby, Reclining Nude, and Girl with Braids. Most of his subject’s heads are sophisticatedly curved with swan-like necks and sloping shoulders resulting into a delicate and gentle impression.

Nowadays, Jewish art is not only limited to literature, music, and paintings, but it now covers decorative designs like accessories, ornamental fixtures, and embellished utensils. It has now evolved from narrow and limited works to limitless art work possibilities.

Israeli and Jewish artists today are currently renowned for their vibrant splashes of color and symbolic representations. These artistic symbolism’s play an integral part of Jewish culture and history. Jewish artistry is a vivacious representation of Jewish world incorporating a variety of traditions which make it special and outstanding. In addition, Jewish arts comprise a lot of meaning which holds fascinating significance to its culture and emits positive influences and energies to its audience.

Jewish people contribute a lot to artist in drawing inspiration for their art works since they are the living faces of Jewish culture, whether it be past or present.

Contemporary Jewish art is a combination of bright, bold colors that are rampant in pop art with the timeless and sophisticated images of its culture and its people. It is an ingenious exemplification of traditional Jewish ways with modern touches of art themes. Jewish art today is an appeal for a refined sense of aesthetic beauty that kindles and defies your perception of Jewish art.

Despite living in the twenty first century, with all its disturbing interferences and tempting opportunities, it is clear that the rocks that embrace the Jewish people together can never be broken. In fact, it is these traditions and culture that push us forward and motivate us to strive toward making ourselves better and being the light unto others as we continue influencing them to grasp progress without forgetting their ancestries and cultural heritage.

Today’s Israeli art has become a surviving witness of how the world changed from one generation to another. It is a delineation of images that bring traditional art to life suitable for modern age. It constantly reminds people that change does not necessarily mean forgetting where you came from. Jewish art gives us the privilege to pay homage to the preceding legacies and look back at our history through paintings and other works of art. Jewish art today is and will always be captivating, bold, and expressive.

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