Bidspirit auction | Pinchas Shaar

Pinchas Shaar - Let My People Go. Pinchas Shaar (Israeli) Oil on canvas 161 × 113.5 cm Unframed A monumental and deeply moving work by Pinchas Shaar, an Israeli artist renowned for his richly decorative, narrative, and multilayered visual language. Measuring an impressive 161 × 113.5 cm, this large-scale painting stands among the artist's most powerful and memorable creations. It may well be one of his most iconic works. The previous owner claimed that the painting was once exhibited at the Jewish Museum in New York. While this information remains unverified, it ultimately becomes secondary when standing before the work itself. The painting possesses an undeniable presence, confronting the viewer with its dramatic composition and its powerful Jewish symbolism. Drawing inspiration from the biblical story of the Exodus from Egypt, the work transcends its scriptural origins to become a universal statement about oppression, exile, and the longing for freedom. The title, Let My People Go, resonates not only with Moses' plea before Pharaoh but also with the modern struggle of Soviet Jewry, recalling the decades during which Jews living behind the Iron Curtain were denied the right to leave and seek freedom elsewhere. In this context, the painting becomes both a historical reflection and a profound act of protest. At the center of the composition, a rider mounted upon a donkey rises above a crowded boat filled with human figures, serving as a metaphor for journey, redemption, and the enduring search for liberation. The pictorial space merges mythology, religion, and folklore into a timeless narrative in which past and present coexist. One particularly intriguing aspect of the painting is the inclusion of seven figures borrowed from compositions by the artist's cousin, the celebrated modernist painter Yankel Adler. The precise significance of this gesture remains uncertain. Whether intended as homage, dialogue, or personal reflection, it introduces another layer of complexity and mystery to an already compelling work. Like Adler himself, Pinchas Shaar experienced life in Europe after leaving Israel for personal reasons, and themes of displacement and belonging echo throughout the composition. The painting is distinguished by its extraordinary decorative richness. Ornamental motifs, colorful framing devices, and layered compositional structures create movement and depth across the vast surface. Warm golden tones interact with vivid blues and intense reds, producing a harmonious yet dramatic visual presence that continuously reveals new details to the attentive observer. Despite its ambitious scale and symbolic complexity, the work remains deeply human. It speaks of migration and memory, suffering and hope, faith and perseverance. It is a painting that demands time and rewards contemplation. The work has undergone a minor professional restoration while preserving the artist's original character and intent, and it remains in very good condition. Details: Artist: Pinchas Shaar Title: Let My People Go Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions: 161 × 113.5 cm Frame: Unframed Condition: Very good; professionally restored with minimal intervention Combining biblical narrative, modern history, and an unmistakable decorative imagination, Let My People Go stands as one of Pinchas Shaar's most ambitious and emotionally resonant works. It is not merely a painting—it is a visual testimony to the enduring human desire for freedom, dignity, and redemption.