Jewish artwork dates back to biblical times and according to biblical texts, the first Jewish artisans were appointing by G-d to build the Tabernacle (Exodus 31:2).  They were called the Biblical Bezalel, which translates to “in the shadow/protection of G-d”.  The Jewish bible discusses the detailed handiwork that went into constructing the First Temple in Jerusalem under King Solomon’s rule and Herod’s Second Temple.  Judaica art also thrived while the Jews were in exile after the destruction of the Second Temple.  The Middle Ages and the Renaissance period were a fascinating time in the history of Jewish art.  Under Islamic rule Jewish art was restricted to synagogues and illustrating manuscripts.  During that period there was much less representation of human forms as is shunned in Islam.  Another explanation for the relatively small amount of Jewish art coming from this period is that the Jews were highly literate.  The Christians depicted their bible stories in order to appeal to the masses who couldn’t read but for Jews, this was unnecessary.  During the period of Enlightenment, Jews were accepted more into the world, which means that artists were able to live out their trade relatively undisturbed.  The late 1800s and early 1900s gave rise to Jewish artists including Pissarro, Modigliani, Soutine and Chagall, among others.  The next notch in the timeline of Jewish art can be seen as the State of Israel was established and fostered one of the richest foundations for Judaica art.  The Bezalel Academy of Art in Jerusalem was founded in 1906 and has been the springboard for many famous Israeli artists.  Throughout history, Jewish art has forever been a mix of religious, spiritual, and mystical reflections put forward in a variety of mediums.

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