Migdal Babel

2002 – 2004

“..And the whole earth was of one language and of one speech...And they said one to another: 'Come, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly.' And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar..And they said: 'Come, let us build us a...tower, with its top in heaven, and let us make us a name; lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.'.. And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men built...And the LORD said: 'Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language; and this is what they begin to do; and now nothing will be withheld from them, which they purpose to do...Come, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.'..So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth...Therefore was the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth; and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth...”

Genesis 11:1–9

The tower of Babel is an historical incident with strong moral overtones that has been depicted in various ways by painters for centuries. In this intriguing composition, Yoram Raanan paints the tower as a lucent and transparent mystical cone, diminishing in size as it rises towards the heavens, without bricks or mortar to keep it together. Surrounding the permeable and translucent structure are figurines of the builders who yearn to reach celestial heights and to be protected for eternity from the devastating waters of future deluges.

original height

72 cm.  28.35 in.

original width

54 cm.  21.26 in.

original media

Acrylic on Canvas

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