Artist: Alfred Aaron Wolmark
Date: 1906
Size: 106 x 88 cm
Museum: Ben Uri Gallery and Museum (London, United Kingdom)
Technique: Oil On Canvas
‘In the Synagogue’ was painted in 1906, after Alfred returned from Poland. A Jewishman is shown in a prayer shawl, with his head covered, sitting alone at the front of asynagogue (a building for Jewish worship and instruction). Figures are seated in thebackground, reading, resting, thinking and praying. The main focus, however, is onthe person in the foreground, with his pose of great contemplation. This paintingcombines Alfred’s artistic skill in creating large compositions, incorporating numeroussitters, with a deep understanding of the spiritual, ceremonial and practical aspectsof Jewish worship present in synagogue settings. There is no obvious indication of the location of this synagogue, but it is likely thatthe sitters were drawn from the East End community that Alfred was now familiarwith. He was used to paying poor people to sit as subjects for his group studies, aformat he had adopted early on, for instance having received in 1896 a silver medalfrom the Royal Academy for his ‘drawing of a statue or group’.‘In the Synagogue’ brings together Alfred’s favoured format (at this stage of hiscareer) with a deep understanding of the Jewish faith, and is regarded by many ascapturing the essence of this particular aspect of the faith. Painted withpredominantly dark tones, the picture reflects his commitment to the style ofRembrandt, but Alfred’s artistic practice would evolve into a distinctly moderniststyle, with him becoming known as the ‘King of Colour’. A meticulous and compassionate study of the meditative state of prayer, capturing the intense inner spirituality of Jewish religious observance.
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