Esther in Rembrandt's paintings

Esther in Rembrandt's paintings
Recently, there was an amazing excursion, which was led by Kharkiv resident, historian, art critic, candidate of historical sciences Victoria Kurchenko. The exhibition "The Book of Esther in Rembrandt's Paintings" is held at The Jewish Museum, on 5th Avenue and 92nd Street in Manhattan. The official name of the exhibition is The book of Esther in the Age of Rembrandt. Together with art professionals Larisa Krasner, a ceramic artist, Olga Faiber, a musicologist, and other intellectuals, I visited this excursion. By the way, on August 2 at 12:30 pm you also have a chance to join the excursion in Russian, which will be led by Victoria Kurchenko.
This exhibition is not only an aesthetic event, but also an invitation to a profound rethinking of the interaction of cultures. In the era of Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1669), the biblical Book of Esther was a powerful source of inspiration for both Jewish and Christian communities in the Netherlands. For the Jewish community, which had found long-awaited freedom in the more tolerant Amsterdam, where the Talmud Torah center and its famous synagogue were located, the holiday of Purim became especially significant. It was celebrated not only with the traditional reading of the Scroll of Esther, but also with theatrical performances featuring artfully decorated manuscripts and works of art.
Rembrandt, who lived in the Jewish quarter of Amsterdam, was surrounded by Jews - scholars, rabbis, merchants. Holland was a cosmopolitan center, where Jews who had fled from Spain and Portugal lived. Rembrandt showed a keen interest in Jewish culture, studied the Tanakh and maintained a deep respect for its images in his works. At that time, it was prestigious among educated Dutchmen to have Hebrew books, Torah scrolls and, for example, the famous Book of Esther, which included ancient texts, at home. This testifies to how much Jewish culture enriched European culture and its aesthetic perception.
Interestingly, in the Netherlands in the 17th century, there was a tradition similar to Jewish charity practice: organizing lotteries and fundraisers to help poor brides. And today, Jewish communities around the world continue this tradition - helping girls of modest means prepare for the wedding, supporting the idea of social justice and community participation.
The exhibition covers a wide range of works: paintings, prints, drawings, decorative and applied arts, created not only by Rembrandt himself, but also by other outstanding artists of his time. There are works by other Dutch artists, as well as by Rembrandt's student and friend, provided by three museums in Philadelphia, North Carolina and Los Angeles and thanks to sponsors. The exhibition was a great success. The works reveal the richness of visual interpretations of the Book of Esther and its significance in both religious and political contexts - after all, the figure of Esther was perceived as a symbol of female determination and national dignity not only in ancient history, but also in Holland, which fought against the Spanish Empire.
It should be emphasized that women leaders have existed in the past among all nations and continue to exist in the modern world, advocating for freedom, women's rights and justice. And the figure of Queen Esther still inspires - as a symbol of courage, wisdom and cultural unity.
Marina Lagunova