Lilith 1945

Reuben Kadish created this print, titled Lilith, in 1945. This symbolic etching presents us with an image of the demonic figure of Lilith, Adam's first wife in Jewish mythology, who refused to obey him and was cast out of paradise. Kadish was associated with the Abstract Expressionist movement, yet here he uses abstraction to depict a specific subject. Created in the aftermath of the Second World War, this print reflects on the anxieties of the time. During the war, many artists explored mythology as a way to represent the human condition. In this print, Kadish may be commenting on traditional gender roles, painting Lilith as a powerful figure who defies patriarchal norms. Her monstrous and fragmented form perhaps symbolizes the disruption of the established social order. To understand this artwork better, we might look into the history of gender roles in the mid-20th century, and how these are reflected in visual culture.