Hesitating Bird

Purim spiels. There is a long tradition of acting in Jewish culture, which originates in the feast of Purim (Hebrew for ‘spells’), devoted to Commemorating the miraculous deliverance of the Jewish people from the massacre in Babylon in the fourth century BC in the times of the Persian Empire. The beautiful Jewish woman Esther was married to the Persian King Achashverosh, and was his much-loved wife. At that time, Jews lived peacefully in Persia, but Haman, an advisor to the king, wanted to force them to bow down to him. When they refused, Haman cast lots to decide on which day the Jews living in the empire would be killed. On learning this, Esther asked her husband to save the Jewish people. The king permitted the Jews to defend themselves, and Haman was hanged. The Jewish people were able to rejoice in victory, ‘for the almighty God hath turned this day of sadness and mourning into joy to them’ (Esther 16, 21). With the appearance of Medieval theatre, the feast of Purim assumed a more playful aspect. Purim spiels began to be staged, witty plays based on events in the Book of Esther and other stories in the Old Testament. They often ridiculed officials and oppressors of the Jews.

The scenographer and painter Adomas Jacovskis paints only portraits and figurative compositions, and the characters in his canvases are like actors playing the roles that have been assigned to them. Each work by this artist is a mini-performance. His Hesitating Bird shows a man wearing a bird’s beak and wings. What is he, bird or man? Why is he hesitating? Does he not know what he is? The artist’s metaphorical works express deep spiritual journeys.

Text author Vilma Gradinskaitė

Source: Law firm Valiunas Ellex art album STORIES OF LITVAK ART (2023). Compiler and author Vilma Gradinskaitė
© LATGA, Vilnius 2024

Purim spiels. There is a long tradition of acting in Jewish culture, which originates in the feast of Purim (Hebrew for ‘spells’), devoted to Commemorating the miraculous deliverance of the Jewish people from the massacre in Babylon in the fourth century BC in the times of the Persian Empire. The beautiful Jewish woman Esther was married to the Persian King Achashverosh, and was his much-loved wife. At that time, Jews lived peacefully in Persia, but Haman, an advisor to the king, wanted to force them to bow down to him. When they refused, Haman cast lots to decide on which day the Jews living in the empire would be killed. On learning this, Esther asked her husband to save the Jewish people. The king permitted the Jews to defend themselves, and Haman was hanged. The Jewish people were able to rejoice in victory, ‘for the almighty God hath turned this day of sadness and mourning into joy to them’ (Esther 16, 21). With the appearance of Medieval theatre, the feast of Purim assumed a more playful aspect. Purim spiels began to be staged, witty plays based on events in the Book of Esther and other stories in the Old Testament. They often ridiculed officials and oppressors of the Jews.

The scenographer and painter Adomas Jacovskis paints only portraits and figurative compositions, and the characters in his canvases are like actors playing the roles that have been assigned to them. Each work by this artist is a mini-performance. His Hesitating Bird shows a man wearing a bird’s beak and wings. What is he, bird or man? Why is he hesitating? Does he not know what he is? The artist’s metaphorical works express deep spiritual journeys.

Text author Vilma Gradinskaitė

Source: Law firm Valiunas Ellex art album STORIES OF LITVAK ART (2023). Compiler and author Vilma Gradinskaitė
© LATGA, Vilnius 2024