Haman was inspired by dreams and nightmares I had as a child about the villain the story of the Jewish holiday of Purim, which is based on the Book of Esther. Esther is a hero of the Jewish people because she overcomes her fear and courageously confronts evil and prevails. Haman is an archetypical figure, in that the entire story of Purim has dubious historic roots. He plots to kill all the Jews in the kingdom and almost succeeds. The triangular hat he wore inspired the invention of Hamentaschen, which is a delicious 3 sided pastry traditionally eaten on Purim! Many scholars have concluded that the story of Purim is probably an amalgamation of stories and actual events. I also perceive it to be a palimpsest, in other words, a story that fuses many layers of time and remebrance. The Archaeological evidence indicates it is based in true events in various places and epochs. The record over thousands of years of Jewish exile in the diasporah is rife with persecution and genocidal plots against us, both those thwarted and those that came to tragic fruition. This painting captures the raw emotions that my dreams and fears of Haman still evoke. I used layers of different colors, letting each one almost dry before applying another, then still more layers. While still not fully cured a few days later, I sprayed a mix of water and acrylic flow release over the whole thing and let it soak in and set for a couple days. Then, when it appeared to have dried and absorbed this 'retarder' medium, I then sprayed another slightly lighter lay of flow release media. I allowed it set for a few minutes. Then I visualized and felt all of the anxiety, terror and panic that Haman caused me over decades. With this energy, I started to scratch the painting with my fingernails. Wantonly embracing the chaos, actually gouging through layers of paint to the white canvas below, or at least to the first couple layers of gesso. Then I put the piece without even looking at it and made Garlic Kale Chips for dinner. A few weeks later I found the painting under a pile of other unfinished paintings. Wow. It really captured the whole mishegas and gestalt. It also locked all of that angst into the painting. I no longer fear all the Hamans in our world. I know what they are and am willing to face them.

Artwork Size & Ink Base:

35x45

Please add your full name below if you would also like to make this listing searchable by name:

Daniel Aaron Schwartz

Please add your IG Username if you would like Plogix to share this listing on social media:

daniel.a.schwartz1