Phoenix

Painting

-

Calvin University Center Art Gallery

The painting depicts a surreal scene featuring a large, mechanical winged horse in vibrant shades of red and purple, poised above a reclining figure holding a book, set against a deep blue background. The horse's joints are depicted with circular, gear-like shapes, enhancing its robotic appearance, while its wings are more bird-like.

The painting depicts a surreal scene featuring a large, mechanical winged horse in vibrant shades of red and purple, poised above a reclining figure holding a book, set against a deep blue background. The horse's joints are depicted with circular, gear-like shapes, enhancing its robotic appearance, while its wings are more bird-like.

Name/Title

Phoenix

Entry/Object ID

2002.25.1

Description

Abstracted purple winged horse (whose body is decorated with a series of gears and pulleys) rearing up over two figures in rubble (one holding an Israeli flag)

Type of Painting

Easel

Artwork Details

Medium

Oil

Category

Vault, People, Animals, Abstract

Made/Created

Artist

Fritz Herschberger

Date made

1994

Dimensions

Dimension Description

image size

Height

54 in

Width

36-1/8 in

Dimension Description

frame size

Height

54-3/8 in

Width

36-5/8 in

Exhibition

Questions: Three Generations of Jewish Artists: Center Art Gallery - August 27 - November 2, 2002

General Notes

Note

Expanded Wall Label: A victim of the Nazi regime and a survivor of World War II, Fritz Hirschberger is a Polish Jew who creates art that is representative of the horrors of the Holocaust. His body of work reflects a suppressed anger directed at groups who have turned their back on the Jews. The Phoenix is an allegorical reference to the rebirth of the Jewish people in Israel after the Holocaust, those who emerged from the fire as the mythological phoenix does. The hand holding an Israeli flag illustrates Hirschberger’s criticism of Zionist groups in other countries who may have cheered the idea, but failed to actually support the project