Sefer Breishis 133 is a drawing by David Baruch Wolk which was uploaded on March 14th, 2013.
Sefer Breishis 133
Chazal say that Divrei Torah don't receive teumah. In the context of painting, one can understand as follows: There were artists, it seems,... more
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14.000 x 17.000 inches
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Title
Sefer Breishis 133
Artist
David Baruch Wolk
Medium
Drawing - Pencil Drawing
Description
Chazal say that Divrei Torah don't receive teumah. In the context of painting, one can understand as follows: There were artists, it seems, that were inspired by the sublime emotions that could be expressed through paint on canvas, etc., and set themselves to the task of painting spiritual paintings. Yet the inherent character of the medium of visual expression lends itself also towards sublime heights, also towards sublime depths; in other words, as much (at least) towards teumah as towards taharah.
For me, I found a derech towards a solution, through the recognition that there are essential forms in the Creation, whose source is in pure Kedusha; namely, the holy letters. These forms are the foundation, so to speak, of the Creation. Therefore, I learn, that when one attaches oneself to these forms, and relates all of one's artistic movements to the recognition of these forms; in this one attaches oneself to the holy source embedded in these forms. One anchors oneself in Kedusha, and thus aids oneself greatly in the fight against descent into teumah.
In my opinion, a Jewish artist must attach himself/herself to holy thoughts, thoughts of Torah, (always, and especially) when painting. For painting is to enter the realm of the imagination, and the forces of teumah are very powerful there. Without a strong counter-attachment to Kedusha, one's path is perilous, to say the least. The essential derech of attaching oneself to Kedushah is a visual exercise, expounded upon at length in the writings of our Sages of blessed memory, (in particular, see Nefesh HaChaim, and the Baal Shem Tov, and Siman 1 of the Shulchan Aruch Orach, Seif alef, in the Biur Halacha, and Biur HaGra there,) that is; attachment in one's thought to the 4 letter Name of Hashem. This yesod is the way of success also in tefilla, visualizing the letters and words of the tefilla in one's mind. This is the derech of yichudim of the Mekubalim. The letters are like gateways through with the Kedushah descends into the person. Likewise, this the derech of tikkun HaOlamot. In short, in this the person becomes sanctified, elevated; and in turn elevates the world and binds it to the Creator, b"h.
In artmaking, it is the same issue. It is possible whether one paints the letters explicitly on the canvas or not; the ikar is that one's mind and heart are attached to the Kedushah. Only in this way can one descend into the realm of the imagination and come out unscathed, bs"d. And, bs"d make holy artworks, which can elevate the world. Unlike much of the art of the world, which, in general, sends the world into the abyss.
Uploaded
March 14th, 2013
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