Devorah Canvas

Description

By Yael Harris

Devorah was the only female judge in Tanach.  According to the text, she was the only judge who had direct prophecy. She was also a military leader of Am Yisrael together with Barak. Barak begged her to join him in battle and she agreed, but she pointed out that the defeat of the enemy Sisera will be due to a woman, Yael.

Devorah means “bee” – the ultimate pollinator, devout worker, and nourisher.

The text describes her as sitting under a date palm – another producer of honey – which represents Torah, sustenance, and prosperity. The nation swarmed to this queen bee for guidance and leadership during one of the most tumultuous times.

I painted her wearing a shawl in the colors and textures of a bee, alluding to her namesake. 

We learn from the text that she is the wife of Lapidot, literally meaning “torches”. She was a guiding light to her people, leading them to victory and peace with God’s light.

Devorah judged Israel fire for years, putting her firmly in older-middle age when she was at her most influential. In painting her, I depicted the gloriousness of this time in a woman’s life proudly featuring wrinkles of wisdom, silver hair, and a flowing maturity. 

About The Artist

American-Israeli Yael Harris Resnick is a self-taught multimedia artist known for her hand painted silk, acrylic paintings and, most strikingly, integrating silk accents on her canvases. Influenced by her mother, calligrapher and ketubah artist Hedy Harris, much of Yael’s work involves Judaic and Biblical motifs and illustrates the splendor of the land of Israel using a vibrantly colorful palette. Inspired by great historical female artists like Freda Khalo, Yael strives to bring brave female heroines into the limelight.
Www.YaelHarrisResnick.com