Please find details of “Shepherd” by Menashe Kadishman
The image of shepherd is common in the art of Menashe Kadishman. The images of grazing flocks appear in his art due to the experience as a shepherd in a kibbutz (a collective Israeli community) in the youth. The depiction of the shepherd’s face is inspired by modernist reflections of Egyptian art. At the 1978 Venice Biennale Menashe Kadishman presented an actual flock of sheep and himself leaded it. He colored the flock and described as a living art. Probably, multicolored round spot on the right side is a reference to this performance. Besides, it reminds a bundle of energy, that unites all the tints. The hair of shepherd echoes the flock coloring.
A religious symbol
Moses as leader was regarded as shepherd of Israel. He could not enter to the promised land, so he turned to G-d and asked that the people not be “as sheep that have no shepherd”. However, he was shepherd not only in the figurative sense, but Moshe also worked as a shepherd before coming to Egypt to lead the Jewish people to Israel.
The story about Moshe’s successor shows the difference between roles of the shepherd and savior, whom was Pinchas. Perhaps, this story has a reflection in the plot another artwork by Menashe Kadishman with the name – “The Shepherd”. Check our blog about this painting as well as his sculpture “The shepherd”, that impresses with its subtlety. The artist connected all the figures and formed a unified streamlined black creature.
Kings Gallery is a leading fine art gallery established in Jerusalem in 1995. We strive to collect and sell the highest quality historic and contemporary Israeli and International art. The gallery specializes primarily in artists from the early period of the 1920’s. Besides, Kings Gallery features leading up-and-coming young artists who will definitely be prominent names in the next few years.
