Artist: Menashe Kadishman (1932–2015)
Technique: Mixed media (Acrylic and oil pastel over original print)
Dimensions: 102x75 cm
Status: Hand-signed by the artist in pencil, dated 1998
About the Artwork
This unique mixed-media artwork by acclaimed Israel Prize laureate Menashe Kadishman blends graphic printmaking with vivid, gestural hand-painting. The composition centers on his iconic sheep head motif, rendered with bold, expressive overlays of blue, red, orange, and pink acrylic paint. Framing the vibrant animal portrait are secondary thematic etchings that recur throughout Kadishman's philosophical oeuvre, including a stylized linear human figure mourning over an altar block in the upper left, and a small howling dog or jackal silhouette in the lower right. Together, these elements reflect his deep narrative investigation into the binding of Isaac, motherhood, and biblical sacrifice. The piece is hand-signed in pencil and dated 1998 along the bottom edge.
About the Artist
Menashe Kadishman (1932–2015): One of Israel’s most internationally celebrated sculptors, painters, and graphic masters.
Formative Themes: Worked as a kibbutz shepherd in his youth, transforming the humble sheep into an enduring trademark, an allegorical vessel for local nature, Jewish history, and wartime bereavement.
Aesthetic Approach: Renowned for high-contrast coloration, heavy expressive brushwork, and monumental outdoor iron structures.
Major Recognition: Represented Israel at the 1978 Venice Biennale and was awarded the prestigious Israel Prize for Sculpture in 1995. His works reside in major institutional collections globally, including the MoMA in New York, the Tate in London, and the Tel Aviv Museum of Art.