loading
reading
writing
saving
searching
original signed Simchat Torah woodblock print Jewish Art Judaica - $150 (Essex / Caldwell)
QR Code Link to This Post
------------------------------------------------------------------
CONDITION: The art itself is in good cosmetic condition but there is some fading on the surrounding matte. Overall still nice to look at (in my opinion) -- handwritten note (concerning the framing, not specifically the art) dated 1970 but I would imagine the art is also from around that time.
*** FULLY FRAMED MEASURES APPROX 11" x 24" ***
This artwork is a limited-edition (1 of 35) woodblock print titled "Simchat Torah", hand-signed by the artist S. Moskowitz. It captures the celebratory atmosphere of Simchat Torah, a joyous Jewish holiday that marks the completion and immediate restarting of the annual Torah reading cycle.
The print employs a traditional block-printing narrative style, flowing horizontally across a single panoramic frame:
- Medium: Woodblock / woodcut print on paper - one of the oldest and most revered forms of traditional relief printmaking. To create this piece, the artist hand-carved the design into the surface of a solid block of wood using sharp chisels and gouges.
- The Hakafot (Procession): The scene depicts a lively community procession, reflecting the traditional hakafot where congregants march and dance around the synagogue with the scrolls.
- The Children & Flags: On the left side, children march proudly while holding small flags. In Jewish tradition, children carry specially designed Simchat Torah flags—often topped with apples or candles—to participate actively in the celebration.
- The Torah Scrolls: Towards the right, adult men and elders, wearing traditional head coverings, carry beautifully adorned Torah scrolls wrapped in decorative mantles and crowns. One prominent figure carries a scroll featuring a stylized Star of David (Magen David).
- The Text: The individuals on the far right are shown holding open prayer books or texts, leading the congregation in festive songs and prayers.
ABOUT THE ARTIST:
-----------------------------
The woodblock print "Simchat Torah" was created by Shirley Moskowitz (later Shirley Moskowitz Gruber), an accomplished American painter, printmaker, and educator. Shirley Moskowitz was born in Houston, Texas, on August 4, 1920. Her maternal family, the Susnitskys, was deeply rooted in the Texan-Jewish community, a heritage that inspired her earliest works. While she painted extensively, her printmaking work spanned linoleum cuts, etchings, monotypes, and woodcuts.
Though Jewish subjects were not her sole preoccupation, they marked major milestones in her career. Her Judaic prints and drawings captured poignant cultural scenes, such as traditional holidays and observations from Jewish cemeteries and synagogues. Over a career spanning more than 75 years, she participated in over 25 solo exhibitions and was featured in prestigious showcases like the Texas General Exhibition and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.
Moskowitz spent a significant portion of her career teaching art and working in Pennsylvania before later relocating to California. She passed away in Santa Monica on April 28, 2007, leaving behind a rich legacy of mid-century American and regional printmaking