Transcript Michael Hafftka

Michael Hafftka
Biblical Paintings
©2010
Tree of Life
46”x38” oil on canvas
©2005
And the LORD God said: 'Behold, the man is
become as one of us, to know good and evil;
and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take
also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for
ever.’
Genesis 3:22 The Hebrew Bible in English
according to the JPS 1917 Edition
Everything needs it and yearns for it, and
seeks to glimpse that tree and, at the end of
their lives, the souls of the righteous ascend
on high attaching themselves to this tree.
p. 121, 154 The Cosmic Tree, Tree of Souls, The
Mythology of Judaism, Howard Schwartz, Oxford
University Press 2004.
Cain
18”x14” oil on canvas
©1998
14) Behold, Thou hast driven me out this day from
the face of the land; and from Thy face shall I
be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer
in the earth; and it will come to pass, that
whosoever findeth me will slay me.'
15) And the LORD said unto him: 'Therefore
whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be
taken on him sevenfold.' And the LORD set a
sign for Cain, lest any finding him should smite
him.
16) And Cain went out from the presence of the
LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east
of Eden.
Genesis 4:14-16 The Hebrew Bible in English according to
the JPS 1917 Edition
Before the Flood
30”x40” oil on canvas ©2003
And God said unto Noah: 'The end of all flesh is come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
Genesis 6:13 The Hebrew Bible in English according to the JPS 1917 Edition
The Flood
60”x48” oil on canvas
©2007
And I, behold, I do bring the flood of waters upon
the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the
breath of life, from under heaven; every thing that
is in the earth shall perish.
Genesis 6:17 The Hebrew Bible in English according to
the JPS 1917 Edition
Noah’s Doves 38”x46” oil on canvas ©2005
And he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground.
Genesis 8:8 The Hebrew Bible in English according to the JPS 1917 Edition
Babel
60”x48” oil on canvas
©2008
7) Come, let us go down, and there confound their
language, that they may not understand one
another's speech.'
8) So the LORD scattered them abroad from
thence upon the face of all the earth; and they
left off to build the city.
9) Therefore was the name of it called Babel;
because the LORD did there confound the
language of all the earth; and from thence did
the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of
all the earth.
Genesis 11:7-9 The Hebrew Bible in English according to
the JPS 1917 Edition
Covenant Between the Pieces
78”x62” oil on canvas
©1997
17) And it came to pass, that, when the sun
went down, and there was thick darkness,
behold a smoking furnace, and a flaming
torch that passed between these pieces.
18) In that day the LORD made a covenant with
Abram, saying: 'Unto thy seed have I given
this land, from the river of Egypt unto the
great river, the river Euphrates;
Genesis 15:17-18 The Hebrew Bible in English
according to the JPS 1917 Edition
Sarah
60”x48” oil on canvas
©2009
15) And God said unto Abraham: 'As for Sarai
thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai,
but Sarah shall her name be.
16) And I will bless her, and moreover I will give
thee a son of her; yea, I will bless her, and
she shall be a mother of nations; kings of
peoples shall be of her.'
17) Then Abraham fell upon his face, and
laughed, and said in his heart: 'Shall a child
be born unto him that is a hundred years
old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old,
bear?’
Genesis 17:15-17 The Hebrew Bible in English
according to the JPS 1917 Edition
Akidah - Rebirth
60”x48” oil on canvas
©2009
9) And they came to the place which God had told
him of; and Abraham built the altar there, and
laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son,
and laid him on the altar, upon the wood.
10) And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and
took the knife to slay his son.
Genesis22:9-10 The Hebrew Bible in English according to
the JPS 1917 Edition
Jacob’s Ladder
60”x48” oil on canvas
©2007
And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on
the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven;
and behold the angels of God ascending and
descending on it.
Genesis28:12 The Hebrew Bible in English
according to the JPS 1917 Edition
Coat of Many Colors
40”x30” oil on canvas
©1996
3) Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his
children, because he was the son of his old age;
and he made him a coat of many colours.
4) And when his brethren saw that their father
loved him more than all his brethren, they
hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto
him.
Genesis 37:23 The Hebrew Bible in English according to
the JPS 1917 Edition
Potiphar
24”x18” oil on canvas
©2001
And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto
Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, the captain
of the guard.
Genesis37:36 The Hebrew Bible in English
according to the JPS 1917 Edition
The Blessing of Ephraim
and Manasseh
78”x62” oil on canvas
©1997
And Israel stretched out his right hand, and
laid it upon Ephraim's head, who was the
younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's
head, guiding his hands wittingly; for
Manasseh was the first-born.
Genesis37:36 The Hebrew Bible in English
according to the JPS 1917 Edition
Crossing the Red Sea
60”x48” oil on canvas
©2008
15) And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Wherefore
criest thou unto Me? speak unto the children
of Israel, that they go forward.
16) And lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thy
hand over the sea, and divide it; and the
children of Israel shall go into the midst of the
sea on dry ground.
Exodus 14:15-16 The Hebrew Bible in English
according to the JPS 1917 Edition
Nachshon, Without Hesitation
46”x38” oil on canvas
©2000
4) And with you there shall be a man of every
tribe, every one head of his fathers' house.
5) And these are the names of the men that
shall stand with you:…
5) Of Judah, Nahshon the son of Amminadab.
13) These were the elect of the congregation,
the princes of the tribes of their fathers;
they were the heads of the thousands of
Israel.
Genesis 1:4-5, 7, 16 The Hebrew Bible in English
according to the JPS 1917 Edition
“When Israel, beset by the Egyptians, reached
the sea, the tribes among themselves
started quarreling who should first go into
the sea. Then suddenly Nahshon, the
prince of Judah, plunged into the sea,
firmly trusting that God would stand by
Israel in their need.”
P 195, The Legends of the Jews, Volume 3, Louis
Ginzberg
Forty Years 78”x100” oil on canvas ©1995
1 And Moses called unto all Israel, and said unto them: Ye have seen all that the LORD did before your eyes in the land of Egypt unto Pharaoh, and unto all his
servants, and unto all his land; 2 the great trials which thine eyes saw, the signs and those great wonders; 3 but the LORD hath not given you a heart to know,
and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day. 4 And I have led you forty years in the wilderness; your clothes are not waxen old upon you, and thy shoe is
not waxen old upon thy foot. 5 Ye have not eaten bread, neither have ye drunk wine or strong drink; that ye might know that I am the LORD your God.
Deuteronomy 29:1-5 The Hebrew Bible in English according to the JPS 1917 Edition
The Promised Land
78”x62” oil on canvas
©1998
48) And the LORD spoke unto Moses that selfsame
day, saying:
49) 'Get thee up into this mountain of Abarim, unto
mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, that is
over against Jericho; and behold the land of
Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel
for a possession;
50) and die in the mount whither thou goest up, and
be gathered unto thy people; as Aaron thy
brother died in mount Hor, and was gathered
unto his people.
51) Because ye trespassed against Me in the midst of
the children of Israel at the waters of Meribathkadesh, in the wilderness of Zin; because ye
sanctified Me not in the midst of the children of
Israel.
52) For thou shalt see the land afar off; but thou shalt
not go thither into the land which I give the
children of Israel.'
Deuteronomy 32:48-52 The Hebrew Bible in English
according to the JPS 1917 Edition
Balaam and His Ass
46”x38” oil on canvas
©2001
21 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his
ass, and went with the princes of Moab. 22 And God's
anger was kindled because he went; and the angel of the
LORD placed himself in the way for an adversary against
him.--Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two
servants were with him.— 23 And the ass saw the angel
of the LORD standing in the way, with his sword drawn in
his hand; and the ass turned aside out of the way, and
went into the field; and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her
into the way. 24 Then the angel of the LORD stood in a
hollow way between the vineyards, a fence being on this
side, and a fence on that side. 25 And the ass saw the
angel of the LORD, and she thrust herself unto the wall,
and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall; and he smote
her again. 26 And the angel of the LORD went further,
and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn
either to the right hand or to the left. 27 And the ass saw
the angel of the LORD, and she lay down under Balaam;
and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass
with his staff. 28 And the LORD opened the mouth of the
ass, and she said unto Balaam: 'What have I done unto
thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?' 29
And Balaam said unto the ass: 'Because thou hast mocked
me; I would there were a sword in my hand, for now I had
killed thee.' 30 And the ass said unto Balaam: 'Am not I
thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden all thy life long
unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee?' And he
said: 'Nay.' 31 Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam,
and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way,
with his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed his
head, and fell on his face. 32 And the angel of the LORD
said unto him: 'Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass
these three times? behold, I am come forth for an
adversary, because thy way is contrary unto me; 33 and
the ass saw me, and turned aside before me these three
times; unless she had turned aside from me, surely now I
had even slain thee, and saved her alive.’
Numbers 22:21-33 The Hebrew Bible in English
according to the JPS 1917 Edition
Sanctuary
78”x62” oil on canvas
©2002
Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with
them--it shall be an everlasting covenant with
them; and I will establish them, and multiply
them, and will set My sanctuary in the midst of
them for ever.
Eaekiel 37:26 The Hebrew Bible in English according
to the JPS 1917 Edition
Battlefield
78”x62” oil on canvas
©2001
3 And David said unto him: 'From whence comest
thou?' And he said unto him: 'Out of the camp of
Israel am I escaped.' 4 And David said unto him:
'How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me.' And he
answered: 'The people are fled from the battle, and
many of the people also are fallen and dead; and
Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.' 5 And
David said unto the young man that told him: 'How
knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son are
dead?' 6 And the young man that told him said: 'As I
happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold,
Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and
the horsemen pressed hard upon him. 7 And when
he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto
me. And I answered: Here am I. 8 And he said unto
me: Who art thou? And I answered him: I am an
Amalekite. 9 And he said unto me: Stand, I pray
thee, beside me, and slay me, for the agony hath
taken hold of me; because my life is just yet in me.
10 So I stood beside him, and slew him, because I
was sure that he could not live after that he was
fallen; and I took the crown that was upon his head,
and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have
brought them hither unto my lord.' 11 Then David
took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and
likewise all the men that were with him. 12 And
they wailed, and wept, and fasted until even, for
Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of
the LORD, and for the house of Israel; because they
were fallen by the sword.
2 Samuel 1:3-12 The Hebrew Bible in English according
to the JPS 1917 Edition
Ecclesiastes
16”x12” oil on canvas
©2006
I have seen all the works that are done under the
sun; and, behold, all is vanity and a striving after
wind.
Ecclesiastes 1:14 The Hebrew Bible in English
according to the JPS 1917 Edition
The Hill, Jerusalem
78”x224” oil on canvas ©1985, in the collection of Yeshiva University Museum, NY
6) Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that this place shall no more be called Topheth, nor the valley of the son of Hinnom, but the valley
of slaughter;
7) and I will make void the counsel of Judah and Jerusalem in this place; and I will cause them to fall by the sword before their enemies, and by the
hand of them that seek their life; and their carcasses will I give to be food for the fowls of the heaven, and for the beasts of the earth;
8) and I will make this city an astonishment, and a hissing; every one that passeth thereby shall be astonished and hiss because of all the plagues
thereof;
9) and I will cause them to eat the flesh of their sons and the flesh of their daughters, and they shall eat every one the flesh of his friend, in the siege and
in the straitness, wherewith their enemies, and they that seek their life, shall straiten them.
Jeremiah 19:6-9 The Hebrew Bible in English according to the JPS 1917 Edition
Man of Sorrows
78”x62” oil on canvas ©1993
14 'Who would have believed our report? And to whom
hath the arm of the LORD been revealed? 15 For he shot up
right forth as a sapling, and as a root out of a dry ground; he
had no form nor comeliness, that we should look upon him,
nor beauty that we should delight in him. 16 He was
despised, and forsaken of men, a man of pains, and
acquainted with disease, and as one from whom men hide
their face: he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 17
Surely our diseases he did bear, and our pains he carried;
whereas we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and
afflicted. 18 But he was wounded because of our
transgressions, he was crushed because of our iniquities:
the chastisement of our welfare was upon him, and with his
stripes we were healed. 19 All we like sheep did go astray,
we turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath
made to light on him the iniquity of us all. 20 He was
oppressed, though he humbled himself and opened not his
mouth; as a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep
that before her shearers is dumb; yea, he opened not his
mouth. 21 By oppression and judgment he was taken away,
and with his generation who did reason? for he was cut off
out of the land of the living, for the transgression of my
people to whom the stroke was due. 22 And they made his
grave with the wicked, and with the rich his tomb; although
he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his
mouth.' 23 Yet it pleased the LORD to crush him by disease;
to see if his soul would offer itself in restitution, that he
might see his seed, prolong his days, and that the purpose of
the LORD might prosper by his hand: 24 Of the travail of his
soul he shall see to the full, even My servant, who by his
knowledge did justify the Righteous One to the many, and
their iniquities he did bear. 25 Therefore will I divide him a
portion among the great, and he shall divide the spoil with
the mighty; because he bared his soul unto death, and was
numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of
many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
Isaiah 53:14-25 The Hebrew Bible JPS 1917 Edition
Guide For The Perplexed
3 panels, each 60"x48" oil on canvas
But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:
And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.
Luke 14:13-14 New Testament King James Version
Total Submission
78”x62” oil on canvas
©1986
‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken
me?’
Psalm 22:2; Mark 15:34; Matthew 27:46
Deposition
78”x200” oil on canvas ©1987
40) Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.
41) Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid.
42) There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.
John 19:40-42 New Testament King James Version
Guardian Angel
78”x62” oil on canvas
©1995
Take heed that ye despise not one of these little
ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their
angels do always behold the face of my Father
which is in heaven.
Matthew 18:10 New Testament King James Version
An Explanation of my Style of Painting
I am often asked why my paintings are dark. Maybe it is because I am a pessimist, albeit a happy pessimist, who tries
relentlessly to feign optimism. Yet deep inside me I always feel the worst is going to happen. The world I express is one where
children are born into harsh existence and spend their days struggling. That is why I paint an atmosphere that is filled with
darkness, with unrealistic and distorted figures that are identifiable yet purposely ambiguous.
I often ask myself why I chose to do something that is difficult to explain to others. For myself I need no explanations because
the reward is in the moment of creating and in the results. I have great respect for realism. But for myself realism is
inadequate to express some often difficult and contradictory feelings. Rather than see and render I feel and render. To do this I
have to invent my own style and let go of the certainty that is in visual perceptions. I create from a visceral experience. When
I finish a painting it looks beautiful to me; it brings out into the open many emotions, and I embrace them even if they are
frightening, because I recognize my reality in them.
When I was a child my father told me he crossed the border into Germany from Poland, after escaping the death that befell his
family at Treblinka. He was alone in the forest at night, deserted and betrayed by a man whom he paid with his last coin to
help him cross the border. He couldn’t go backwards and going forwards was terrifying. He survived the war as a slave on
false papers with a fake name, in a place where the exhausted slaves were thrown live into the furnace when they could no
longer work. My mother also survived the war, but she never mentioned anything from her past, not even that her mother was
still alive in Hungary. I think my father’s depressing stories and my mother’s horrible silence and anxiety infused me with a
worldview that is dark and frightening. There is a beauty to showing things as they are, even if in disrepair, and creating in the
same manner in which the world is created by the fragile unpredictability of chance.
I like to use traditional media like oil on linen and watercolors on paper. Before I start I often wait for hours, sometimes days,
for a feeling to overtake me. Then I feel I am being guided. I don’t plan, I don’t intend to do anything in particular (except to
some degree when I do a portrait) and I only know the outcome when I finish. During the creative process a torrent of feelings
and thoughts brings on a flood of responses to what I am painting. I often feel excited, illuminated and joyful! My editorial
faculties are then in my gut rather than my intellect.
In painting I am able to express what I cannot express with words, with realism or with abstraction. I am bringing into focus a
reality that is urgent for me and which I live to acknowledge.
© Michael Hafftka Brooklyn NY 2010