Bar Mitzvah c. 20th century

Editor: This is Harry Sternberg's "Bar Mitzvah," a print held at the Harvard Art Museums. The black and white contrast is striking. What do you make of its composition? Curator: Indeed. Observe the figure of the central child. His posture presents a study in rigidity, set against the clustered forms of the elders. How does the artist use line to create a sense of weight and solemnity? Editor: The heavy lines definitely contribute to the seriousness of the moment. The patterns on the tallitot add texture, too. Curator: Precisely. The interplay of positive and negative space structures our reading, directing our eye toward the focal point. Editor: This close looking has really opened my eyes to Sternberg's compositional choices. Curator: Formal analysis reveals the artist's strategic use of visual elements to convey meaning.