Matnat Betsalʼel la-ḥaveraṿ
Betsalʼel (Academy)
Matnat Betsalʼel la-ḥaveraṿ [yovel ha-ʻeśrim li-Vetsalʼel, 1906-1926]
(From Bezalel to Its Members: 20th Anniversary of Bezalel, 1906-1926)
Color illustration on olivewood
Yerushalayim: Hotsaʼat Y. Ben Dov, 1926
This photo album, with its beautifully crafted and colored olivewood cover, was produced as a gift for the supporters of the Bezalel Art School in celebration of its 20th anniversary in 1926. Founded in Jerusalem in 1906 by the renowned painter and sculptor Boris Schatz (1866–1932), the school is considered the first Jewish institution of higher learning in Israel and is a leading art academy in modern-day Israel. The school takes its name from Bezalel, a legendary figure from the Bible, to whom God, through Moses, entrusted creation of the Tabernacle, a portable divine dwelling place, which was carried along by the Israelis during their wanderings in the desert in the time of the Exodus.
The photo album contains numerous postcard-sized photographs of students engaged in their studies and their artistic creations during the school’s first two decades.
In the illustration for the album’s cover, the figure of Bezalel resting on the steps of his major creation, the Arc of Tabernacle, occupies the center of the composition. Two angels kneel atop the Tabernacle, their outstretched wings reaching toward each other. This element is influenced by Boris Schatz’s own plaster sculpture of Bezalel created in 1918. On the left side of the image is the Wailing Wall with worshippers, while a complex of buildings of the Bezalel Art School is visible on the right.
The top corners are adorned with elements of traditional Jewish East European folk art, featuring foliate ornaments and deer, which symbolize beauty and grace.
The New York Public Library believes that this item is in the public domain under the laws of the United States, but did not make a determination as to its copyright status under the copyright laws of other countries. This item may not be in the public domain under the laws of other countries. Though not required, if you want to credit us as the source, please use the following statement, "From The New York Public Library," and provide a link back to the item on our Digital Collections site. Doing so helps us track how our collection is used and helps justify freely releasing even more content in the future.
