Dr. Shimon Agranat 1973

This is a drawing of Dr. Shimon Agranat by Oskar Kokoschka. Kokoschka was an Austrian artist known for his intense expressionistic portraits. The image we see here reflects that quality. Agranat was the President of the Supreme Court of Israel. Kokoschka's choice of subject matter is interesting, and the way he has rendered him. The drawing may be viewed as a document of how the legal and judicial system was viewed at the time, both by society and Kokoschka as an individual. How can we tell if this drawing supports or critiques the Israeli legal system? We may look at other works of art and literature from the same time period in Israel, as well as the history of Kokoschka himself, to understand whether this drawing represents a progressive or conservative position. The meaning of this drawing is contingent on the context in which it was made.