Ever since we became a people, we have numbered amongst us experts in every
manner of artist and artistry, full of the wisdom of engraving and embroidery,
weaving and dyeing, working with silver, gold, copper. Artisans sophisticated in
every manner of craft. Close to Israel's exit from Egypt, some 3300 years ago,
Betzalel, the first Jewish artisan, began the artistic creation of The Temple
and its utensils.
/Exodus 35, 30/
Approximately 350 years afterwards we find artists involved with the artistic
creation of the First Temple and its utensils by order of King Solomon.
/First Kings 1, 6-7/
In the 1st century before the Common Era, King Herod rebuilt what became the
Second Temple, in all its glory and honor. This building was especially wondrous
in its beauty and the artistry employed in its construction. So much so that our
Sages said: "He who hasn't seen Herod's building has never seen a beautiful
building all the days of his life.'
/Talmud Baba Batra, 4a/
When the
Temple was destroyed, art did not disappear from Israel. During the time of the
Talmud it was customary to beautify synagogues with art works including stone
etchings, floor mosaics, and drawings on the walls and ceiling. The earliest
evidence of this is a synagogue built in the 3rd century in Dura Europos on the
banks of the Euphrates river. Its walls are covered with drawings depicting
stories from the Tanach and midrash. During the same period, they began to
illustrate and decorate holy writings with the same intention- to glorify and
honor that which is holy.
The
tradition of painting synagogues continued through the generations in all the
diasporas, with a considerable increase from the 17th century and onward,
ceasing only with the destruction of European Jewry in the Shoa.
Today the
phrase "Jewish Art" is used for all art created by Jews whose content is drawn
from the sources or Jewish life.
Giclee prints
Giclee is a French word meaning to spray ink.
It is a print method that was developed at the end of the 80s, where millions of
drops of ink per second are sprayed on a canvas or paper. Each drop is one
quarter the diameter of a hair, which enables maximum reproduction of the
original work, both in precision and clarity, as well as color matching. Many
museums around the world display Giclee reproductions, while the invaluable
originals remain safely hidden in safes.
We make our Giclee prints using the best materials available, in an art studio
of the highest reputation used by top professionals. They use original
manufacturers ink from Epson, known for the quality and longevity of their inks.
We print on canvas, or textured "Fine Art" paper, 100% cotton, acid-free, which
enables us to achieve rich lifelike color.
