Jerusalem 1950

Jean David's 'Jerusalem' is a painting of walls, skies, and towers, rendered with oil on canvas. It looks like he may have started with a sketch, but quickly abandoned any preconceived ideas, layering blocks of colour, one over the other. It’s a patchwork of greys and earth tones, interrupted by patches of blue and green, with the ghost of Jerusalem emerging through the fog. I can imagine Jean David standing at his easel, brush in hand, completely engrossed in the act of painting. There are the grey slabs of the fortress, and above, broken forms that could be clouds, or maybe even thoughts taking shape. Look at the portal within the wall—the splash of red is like a secret, a tiny burst of energy. Painting, like memory, is an act of reconstruction. Artists aren't just recreating a scene; they are sifting through their memories, feelings, and experiences. Each painter has their own distinct voice. Together they build a history, a visual record of lived experience, with each painting adding a unique accent to the conversation.