World Religion CPT

Culture - Paintings

From the beginning of the 20th century, visual arts in Israel have shown a creative orientation, influenced both by the West and East, as well as by the land itself, its development, the character of the cities, and stylistic trends emanating from art centers abroad.  Israeli art is closely related to Jewish art due to the close influence.  The 'holy' land serves as a unique subject for many paintings as well as many relgious places of worship, such as the Western Wall.  This beauty and diversity of landscapes provides a unique backdrop for artists to utilize. The earliest Israeli art movement was the Bezalel school of the Ottoman and early Mandate period, when artists portrayed both Biblical and Zionist subjects in a style influenced by the European Art Nouveau movement, symbolism, and traditional Persian, Jewish, and Syrian artistry.  Words and ideas, such as prayer and passages have always been a focal point in Jewish life, but fine arts and handicrafts have played a prominent role as well.  Visual arts play a key role in religious aspects as well as Jewish artists display their religious, as well as cultutral identites throught art.  Jewish art is often the focal point for many Israeli homees and synagogues, and has been for centuries.