Paper cuts have long been a popular Jewish folk art. Given the widespread availability of paper in Europe by the mid-nineteenth century and the simplicity of the tools required in making paper cuts, this craft could be practiced even by those with little means or few skills. In addition to being aesthetic objects, paper cuts also fulfilled a religious purpose and were often connected to a particular festival, event, or ritual. Paper cuts have been a tradition of Jewish folk art, with the earliest record dating to the fourteenth century. Within Eastern and Central Europe, several extant examples dating from the eighteenth century onward illustrate the development of the art form in its use for interior decoration. An 1848 mizraḥ created by the artisan Moshe Michael Rosenboim, located in Schönlanke (Trzcianka, Poland) is a masterful example of a Judaic paper cut. Mizraḥim are decorative objects that are hung on the eastern walls (facing toward Jerusalem in European areas) of Jewish homes and are used as an aid to prayer as well as a symbol of divine protection.
Schwebel is best known for his paintings depicting dramatic scenes set in the streets of modern cities, such as Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and New York. These tableaus often featured biblical figures or…
This scroll of Esther from Germany, created for use on the holiday of Purim, is extensively decorated, with illustrations of biblical scenes from the Esther story, as well as various flora and fauna…
June 7, 1943
Mr. Edward Alden Jewell
Art Editor
New York Times
229 West 43 Street
New York, N.Y.
Dear Mr. Jewell:
To the artist, the workings of the critical mind is one of life’s mysteries. That is…