Illustration for Haggadah of Pesach 1970

Jean David’s illustration for the Haggadah of Pesach is made up of flat shapes of color, almost like cutouts, that give a sense of the plagues descending. I can imagine David carefully layering each shape to create a composition that feels both playful and menacing. The colors are earthy, like browns, greens, and oranges, contrasting with the blue and black which are reminiscent of the night sky. The texture is smooth, like a printed page which brings a graphic quality. It makes me think of children’s books, but with this undertone of something darker. I like the way the shapes come together in the image to show the figures of the people or the plagues of locusts. The composition really makes you feel something between wonder and fear. It reminds me a little bit of Miró’s biomorphic forms and surrealist landscapes, but with a Jewish folk art twist. It shows how we as artists are all magpies, always borrowing and responding to each other across time. It is about openness, with each form feeling unfinished, open to multiple meanings and possibilities.