arching doorway where six figures gather; figure in ULQ leans against wall, wearing a hat and gazing downward to PL; figure in profile in URQ, wearing wide-brimmed hat, looking to left; four other figures crowd in succession toward bottom center; image is rendered in pigments of rust, green, black and light blue

House of Prayer, 1905 or 1921

Unknown artist, expand_more
Not on Viewexpand_more

The men of a Jewish community enter the synagogue on a dark and chilly night. The stone building seems weathered but sturdy—built to last. The warm light coming from within reminds us of the dual function of a sanctuary, a holy place and a place of safety. This history of this print is a little unclear. This example is dated 1905, but some others says 1921. In either case, the image of ordinary working men coming to pray together takes on heartbreaking poignancy in light of the terrible fate suffered by German Jews in the following decades. The damaged condition of this print may reflect a desire to salvage a material scrap of an earlier time.

Details
Title
House of Prayer
Artist Life
1884–1968
Role
Artist
Accession Number
2018.125.2
Provenance
Pearl and Sheldon Sheps, Rochester, Minn. & Minneapolis; given to MIA, 2018.
Curator Approved

This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.

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arching doorway where six figures gather; figure in ULQ leans against wall, wearing a hat and gazing downward to PL; figure in profile in URQ, wearing wide-brimmed hat, looking to left; four other figures crowd in succession toward bottom center; image is rendered in pigments of rust, green, black and light blue