Jewish paintings can be divided into two main categories: those of a religious nature and those that are merely painted by a Jewish artist. Both are termed Judaica; both varieties are beautiful in their uniqueness. While recently perusing the catalogue of available art at PishPoshPaints, I thought I’d share with my readers a few of my favorites of each type and why I felt particularly drawn to them.

One painting that I absolutely fell in love with is The Violinist, painted by Issachar Ber Ryback. The vibrant yellow background depicts some sort of happy celebration; the sinuous lines of the man playing the violin indicate his fluidity as he dances and plays.

Another painting that speaks directly to the heart is one entitled Sabbath Eve. Painted in grayscale, it conveys the seriousness of the holy day, but also emits a sense of warmth from the glow of the candles and the togetherness of the family gathered around the table. This was painted by Josef Israëls, a Dutch Jewish painter born to a family of money changers who grew up to study in the famous Ecole des Beaux-Arts in France. Anyone who has experienced a Shabbos meal will find themselves drawn to the sentimentality of this painting.

I found a beautiful landscape painting titled, Children on the Beach, by the Jewish painter Isaac Lazarus Israëls. I picked it out because it spoke to me, and interestingly enough, it turns out that this artist is the son of the above-mentioned Josef Israëls. The soft colors, and the emphasis of the changing light on the sun and the sea, highlight the innocence of the children playing in the foreground. This painting is an essential addition to any child’s bedroom or playroom.

All these paintings and painters can be found online at PishPoshPaints, manufacturer and supplier of fine hand painted oil paintings.