Old world man sitting in prayer with lemons at table in purple with sun worship and peace citrus

by MendyZ

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Price

$6,900

Dimensions

20.000 x 24.000 x 1.000 inches

Title

Old world man sitting in prayer with lemons at table in purple with sun worship and peace citrus

Artist

MendyZ

Medium

Painting - Acrylic On Canvas

Description

When the old world collides with the new world the artist can seize upon the juxtaposition of the two. In this case with the old world man sitting in prayer with lemons at table in purple and sun worshiping the peace citrus in front of him, the painter chose to use purple. The color of royalty, but also a color with depth and warmth. The old man is praying and could be construed as either an Orthodox Jewish Chosid or their antithesis the Russian peasant. The two are so alike, yet so riled up. The philosophical conundrum of the Orthodox Jew who has chosen not to assimilate and become one with the world around him, while the other seems eager to do just that – the Russian peasant with the scarcity of handouts the peasant has chosen to follow like a puppy dog it's master around. But, the simple idea that they can be merged in one painting is an intriguing thought. Sure, the artwork is harmonious in nature, and it is pleasant to look at on the surface. Yet beneath its brushstrokes is a roiling mass of seething fury.
What is most fascinating about this work is the placement of the lemons. The fruit represents something that is both sacred and profane. They are food, and they are also a symbol of wealth which is why they sit in the center of the table. The man is bowed to the fragrant citrus in solemn reverence to the fruit. It is a reminder for us to eat, and to survive.
But it is also used as a representation of the world around him, a warning of what we should avoid. For as the man eats the lemons, he is aware of them. He knows they're there, and he is aware of how much he eats.
The lemons aren't the only thing he eats, but they are the most interesting and the most important. And in this painting, the lemons have been replaced by the mans daily sustenance. The dark pumpernickel bread. The salted dried fish. The potatoes. It's the lemons that the commission wanted from the artist. It's those lemoney tasties that were the most important to the old man. But it is his bread which has been the most important in life. It is the food that has sustained him when times were hard, when he had nothing else, no money, no power, and certainly not any respect.
Yet, he does not eat the bread. It is the fruit of his survival, and his ability to make ends meet, but it is not what is most important to him. Instead, what the old man really craves his prayer, and the knowledge of God. That which life has bestowed upon him. In all it's purple glory. That prayer bow, purple wash and tone, and striking lemon yellow indicate that the two are harmonious but also in opposition. The artist knowingly chose two complementary colors to offset that history in the old world peasants.
It would appear that the man is a devout Orthodox Jew, but he may be more of a Chosid or Russian Orthodox. The Chosid are a tribe of Jews who live on the edge of Orthodoxy swirling fervently in solitude, prayer, and action of repairing the world around them. Gathering up every spark that has been scattered from the first sin. The lemon or citron was one of the historical options that the Apple took over for Original Sin. This prayer over the lemons is a reminder of that sin. It is a reminder of the importance food has in our lives, and how everything we have around us is there to assist us on our journey of repair.
It is a religious piece, perhaps even a kosher meal with a side of guilt. Because this is the kind of meal that the man would never want his wife to see, nor his children. It is not a proper dinner, it is a meal that is meant for someone else who might be able. The tartness is a general reminder to the viewer that life is hard. It will always be there. There is nothing you can do to remove it. You cannot change it or hide it, and yet you must still get out of bed in the morning and eat it anyway. The only hardest day you will ever know is the one that has already passed us by. The yesterday. The tartness is that yesterdays bitterness. The tomorrow is the sweetness that is to come.

Uploaded

July 2nd, 2022

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