Illustration for Haggadah of Pesach 1970

Jean David made this illustration for Haggadah of Pesach, using bold colors and simplified shapes that just pop off the page. It’s like he’s saying, “Hey, history can be vibrant too!” I love how the frog is just chilling on a log, as if waiting for his close-up. There’s a simplicity to the forms, but it's not naive; there’s a real sophistication in how he flattens the space and uses color. The face at the bottom is so expressive. I mean, look at that green skin and the one blue eye. It's so direct and emotive, like a quick sketch, yet so complete in its emotional depth. It reminds me of some of Redon’s dreamscapes, but with a Jewish flavor. It’s art that speaks of tradition but does so with a modern twist, proving that art, like history, is always being reinterpreted.