Canaanite movement Visual arts in Israel

itzhak danziger

nimrod, 1939

the israel museum, jerusalem collection



amos kenan

messiah, 1966

tefen open museum

in 1943 poet yonatan ratosh (1908–1981) published epistle hebrew youth , proclamation, manifesto, first written communication of caananites , literary , artistic movement had been active time. in essay ratosh called on hebrew speaking youth become buffer against judaism. declared between youth had settled in land of israel , jews of diaspora there no true connection. became characteristic cry of caananites, members proposed return mythological past, in order create hebrew–speaking nation independent identity.

the visual expression of aspiration use of archaic forms , styles, under influence of fertile crescent art. tendency reflected, significant degree, interest in primitive art , sculpture prevalent in europe @ beginning of 20th century. pro-archaic style expression of symbolism.

one of significant artists of canaanite movement sculptor itzhak danziger. returned land of israel in 1938 after studying in britain, , demonstrated new national outlook in work which, in contrast acceptable in europe, full of sensuality , eastern exoticism. art fit feelings , sense of identity of of population of jewish settlement in land of israel. dream of danziger s contemporaries, writes amos keinan after danziger s death, unite land of israel , earth of composed, create specific image recognizable signs, here , us, , embed in history mark of special . in addition nationalism, sculptures demonstrated expressionist-symbolist style similar in spirit british sculpture of same period.

danziger opened sculpture studio in yard of father s hospital in tel aviv, , there critiqued , taught young sculptors such benjamin tammuz, kosso eloul, yechiel shemi, mordechai gumpel, etc. in addition students, studio became popular meeting place artists other fields well. in studio danziger created first significant works, sculptures nimrod (1939) , shabazia (1939). when nimrod unveiled became focus of important dispute in land of israel cultural circles; sculpture depicts figure of nimrod, biblical hunter according jewish religious literature, lean youth, naked , uncircumcised, sword clutched in hand , falcon on shoulder. sculpture harked earlier cultures of assyrians, egyptians, , greeks, while @ same time showed similarities european sculpture of time. sculpture expressed combination of homoerotic beauty , pagan idolatry. combination @ center of criticism in religious circles in jewish settlement. criticism against nimrod , canaanites heard not in religious circles, objected pagan , idolatrous aspects of work, in secular circles among objected rejection of jewishness . significant extent nimrod intensified dispute had existed prior appearance. @ same time other voices called new model new jewish man . newspaper boker [morning] wrote in 1942 nimrod not sculpture. flesh of our flesh, spirit of our spirit. milestone , monument. apotheosis of vision , daring , youthful rebellion distinguishes entire generation…nimrod young forever .

in spite of fact danziger later had reservations nimrod model israeli culture, many artists adopted canaanite style , point of view in sculpture. figures resembling idols , images in primitive style appeared in israeli art until 1970s. furthermore influence of canaanite movement evident in art of new horizons group.