How to go
What: Marc Chagall: Jerusalem Window Lithographs
Where: Dayton Art Institute’s Hall of Holidays, South Gallery, 456 Belmonte Park N., Dayton
When: Continues through Feb. 23
Hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday-Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays
Cost: $8; free for students/members
More info: 937-223-4ART (4278) or www.daytonartinstitute.org
The late artist Marc Chagall (1887-1985) was born in Russia and moved to France at the age of 23. He had a deep sense of identification with his Jewish heritage, and celebrated that passion with the creation of twelve stained glass windows for the synagogue at the Hadassah-Hebrew Medical Center in Jerusalem. These windows symbolize the twelve tribes of Israel, blessed by Jacob and Moses in concluding verses in Genesis and Deuteronomy.
In creating these works of art, Chagall imagined the 11’ x 8’ windows as “jewels of translucent fire.” Lithographic prints based on these windows were created in 1964, and are currently on view at the Dayton Art Institute. The 12 color lithographs were created by Chagall’s master printmaker, Charles Sorlier, based on Chagall’s own sketches and designs.
“This is my modest gift to the Jewish people who have always dreamt of biblical love, friendship and of peace among all peoples,” said Chagall on Feb. 6, 1962, when the windows were installed.
Embedded in the history of these 12 tribes is an interesting story about marital deception. Jacob, known as the Father of the 12 tribes of Israel, was Abraham’s grandson and Isaac’s son. Jacob traveled to Haran and fell in love with Rachel. He made a pact with her father, Laban, to work seven years in exchange for her hand in marriage. When the time came, however, Laban deceived Jacob. After the wedding feast, Jacob discovered the next morning Laban had delivered Rachel’s older sister Leah to him instead.
Although Jacob didn’t love Leah as he did Rachel, God compensated Leah by blessing her with many sons. Of the 12 tribes, six are named after Jacob and Leah’s sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulon. Jacob married Rachel as well, and two tribal leaders are the result of their union: Joseph and Benjamin. Rachel died giving birth to Benjamin. Servants of Leah and Rachel bore the final four tribal leaders: Dan, Naphtali, Gad and Asher.
The Tribe of Reuben: Jacob’s blessing: “Reuben, you are my first-born. My might and first fruit of my vigor.” A radiant circle at the top signifies the sunrise, recalling his firstborn status.
The Tribe of Simeon: The image symbolizes separation between the elements. Simeon and his brother Levi took revenge on Shechem following the kidnapping and rape of their sister by the King of that city. Jacob declared they would not have their own lands in Palestine as a result, but instead “be scattered in Israel.”
The Tribe of Levi: As a reward for a show of faithfulness, God appointed this tribe to oversee and serve in the Sanctuary. The predominant yellow hue in the window signifies the gold for the sacred objects in the Tabernacle.
The Tribe of Judah: The window that inspired this lithograph is the only one that Chagall signed. The red symbolizes the blood of battle and the blood of grapes. Judah was one of the favored sons of Jacob; he called him “the King of Beasts.”
The Tribe of Issachar: Light green dominates this window symbolizing spring and fertility, as he was born to Leah after a long period of sterility.
The Tribe of Zebulon: The fish swimming in this red-dominant composition are frequent motifs in Jewish art in Eastern Europe. Moses’ blessing: “for they draw from the riches of the sea.”
The Tribe of Joseph: Known as the most favored son of Jacob, who blesses him to have a bounteous crop. This is characterized in Chagall’s orange imagery of ripe corn and fruit-laden trees. He also depicts a ram’s horn signifying freedom and salvation.
The Tribe of Benjamin: Saul, the first king of Israel, came from the Tribe of Benjamin. Predominantly blue, the composition shows a ravenous wolf standing over its prey.
The Tribes of Dan, Naphtali, Gad and Asher The imagery for Dan is mainly dark blue and dominated by a three-branched candelabrum, which serves as both a tree of life and a tree of justice. The Naphtali window is predominantly soft yellow with a tree of life symbolizing resurrection and vigilance. The peaceful nature of Asher’s window is a counterpoint to the devastation of war seen in the composition for Gad’s tribe.
These lithographs on view at the Dayton Art Institute are works in their own right, some bearing only a slight resemblance to its inspired composition.
“The result so obtained is in fact a new creation, and not a reproduction, having but a very distant relationship with the initial maquette,”said Sorlier.
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