We look, today, at an artwork created for #TheSongofSongs” (Song of Solomon) from the Old Testament. The image relates to chapter 4 and verse 16.

Awake,O north wind,
And come, O south!
Blow upon my garden,
That its spices may flow out
Let my beloved come to his garden
And eat its pleasant fruits.

The artist is #Ya’akovBoussidan. He was born in Port Said, Egypt, in 1939. Boussidan is a painter, a sculptor, and a printmaker. When he was ten, he and his family were exiled from Egypt due to the Arab-Israeli war. Boussidan was interested in the furtherance of Jewish tradition through his art. At the mature age of 27, Ya’akov travelled to London to study printmaking at Goldsmith College. With access to presses and printing facilities, Ya’akovs’ love of the colours ‘black and white’ were brought to the fore. His technique of etching was refined, along with the mastering of mixing his own inks brought a more focused approach to displaying his thoughts. A few different shades of black can bring warmth or coolness to an image.

Boussidans’ ‘The Song of Songs’ was published in 1982. It was limited to 200 copies and contained not only the 8 offset lithographs but also one original engraving from the set. I love the way the two bodies male and female meld into a unified form. Two shall become one. It is an absolutely beautiful piece to look upon.