The artwork “Illustration to Aggadah” was created by El Lissitzky in 1919. It is an illustration that aligns with the Naïve Art movement, also known as Primitivism, and was created during a post-revolutionary period in Russia, which significantly influenced the art scene of that era.
In El Lissitzky’s “Illustration to Aggadah,” we observe a bold and almost mystical composition. There’s a large eye at the crest of the image, evoking the sense of an omnipotent witness or a divine presence. This eye is surrounded by Hebrew text, suggesting that the illustration is deeply connected to Jewish narrative traditions or texts. Below the eye are various figures in differing states of abstraction. They appear to be caught in moments of action or dialogue, which is typical of illustrations that aim to convey stories or concepts. The use of vivid contrast and the integration of text with image is characteristic of Lissitzky’s groundbreaking graphic style, which often merged avant-garde art with Jewish themes.
The use of red and black adds a stark sense of drama, making the eye the focal point while the subdued figures magnify the eye’s intensity. The semi-circular framing and the way the characters are arranged gives the illustration a sense of movement and continuity, suggesting an ongoing narrative or cycle.
