Mystical Imprints: Marc Chagall, Ben-Zion, and Ben Shahn

On view in the Mezzanine Gallery September 14, 2019 – March 22, 2020

Mystical Imprints: Marc Chagall, Ben-Zion, and Ben Shahn presents the print work of three prominent 20th century Jewish artists born in the Russian Empire. Among these seventy pieces are etchings and lithographs from Chagall’s Bible series, Ben-Zion’s full 1980 portfolio The 36 Unknown, Shahn’s iconic The Alphabet of Creation, and more. Organized in partnership with the Hill Museum & Manuscript Library (HMML) at Saint John’s University, the exhibition draws on HMML’s remarkable collection of works on paper. Most of the works in Mystical Imprints have never been exhibited by HMML before.

The tradition of Jewish mysticism as an inspiration for these artists is at the center of the exhibition, from Ben-Zion’s suffering prophets, to Shahn’s Kabbalah influences, to Chagall’s dreamlike images. As well as tradition, a personal sense of mysticism is evident in each artist’s work. Chagall mixed his Russian childhood, Jewish history, and his own symbology to create works of dense metaphysical imagery. Ben-Zion, to use his own word, “adored” prophets and intimately explored their lives and emotional journeys in his work. Shahn found meaning in the great work of Jewish mysticism, the Kabbalah text the Sefer ha-zohar, and in his own joy in the power of letters and words.

Marc Chagall (1887-1985)
Mystical Crucifixion, 1950
Lithograph on paper
Collection of the Hill Museum & Manuscript Library

Ben Shahn (1898-1969)
Alphabet of Creation, 1957
Serigraph on paper
Collection of the Hill Museum & Manuscript Library

Marc Chagall (1887-1985)
Hannah Invokes God, 1956
Hand-colored etching on paper
Collection of the Hill Museum & Manuscript Library

Ben-Zion (1897-1987)
And Jacob was Left Alone, from the portfolio Biblical Themes, 1950
Etching on paper
Collection of the Hill Museum & Manuscript Library