The Wall of the Temple
Item
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Title
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The Wall of the Temple
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Description
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The oil on Masonite mural titled “The Wall of the Temple” was created by the Abstract Expressionist artist Robert Motherwell in 1952. Motherwell was at the forefront of the American modern art movement, and was well known for his avant-garde work. Although Motherwell was not Jewish, he studied with Columbia University professor and Rabbi Meyer Schapiro and had spiritual themes within his work. Motherwell was commissioned by architect Percival Goodman to create a contemporary piece of art for the lobby of a modern synagogue in Millburn, New Jersey. Goodman designed a synagogue that was modern and not based off of traditional Jewish architecture with the intent of creating a space that was not only for worshipping purposes, but also was a space where Jews could find a sense of community and culture. Many American Jews had moved out of city and into the suburbs post WWII and no longer were apart of close knit Jewish neighborhoods. Creating a “modern” synagogue that included abstract art was considered a bold move during this time period. The modern synagogue provided a place for American Jews to socialize instead of being strictly for religious purposes. The large mural painting displays abstract representations of Jewish symbols such as Jacob’s ladder, the tablets of Moses, and the Diaspora of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. In 2010, the mural went on display at the Jewish Museum in the New York City as part of an exhibition titled “Modern Art, Sacred Space: Motherwell, Ferber, and Gottlieb”.
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Creator
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Robert Motherwell
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Source
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The Jewish Museum
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Date
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1952
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Format
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Painted Mural
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Extent
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96 1/2 x 192 1/2
