Jerusalem Carpet

This Bezalel rug depicts a triad of golden Art Nouveau Menorot against the background of a silhouetted panorama of Jerusalem. The hues of very pale yellow and gilt ochre on the one hand, and of very dark brown and green on the other, brilliantly serve to express the majestic scene of Jerusalem the Gold just before sunrise.

The view is actually a montage demonstrating the high skills of the early Bezalel artists in balancing three concerns:

The Jewish reference point which require representational recognisability of important sites,

second, the elegant romantic Art Nouveau style,

and thirdly, the overall formal decorative requirement which tends to restrict the romanticism and introduce an abstract-like formal balance.

This important rug exemplifies one of the prime Bezalel compositions, conveying qualities both festive and serene.