The Shabbat Evening – 🏛️ Currently on Museum Exhibition

Cultural, Historical & Educational Context: The Sanctity of the Sabbath Table and Folk Beliefs „The Shabbat Evening” invites the viewer into the sacred, serene space of a Jewish home in the pre-war shtetl. The Sabbath — the weekly day of rest and holiness — begins on Friday evening, transforming even the most humble dwelling into a sanctuary, and the dining table into a sacred altar.

From an educational and cultural perspective, Marek Hausmann faithfully recreates the essential iconography of the Sabbath feast (Seudat Shabbat):

• The Silver Kiddush Cup and Wine Bottle: Instruments for reciting the Kiddush blessing over wine, sanctifying the holy day.

• The Braided Challah: Golden-brown Sabbath bread resting on a white napkin, evoking the heavenly manna.

• The Fish on a Platter: A traditional symbol of fertility, spiritual blessing, and Oneg Shabbat (Sabbath delight).

• The Prayer Book (Siddur): Bound in leather, representing Torah study and spiritual devotion.

A defining metaphysical element is the pair of silver candlesticks. According to tradition, the woman of the house kindles at least two candles to honor the dual commandments: Shamor (Observe) and Zachor (Remember). On this canvas, one candle burns brightly while the other has prematurely extinguished. In shtetl folklore, this sudden loss of flame was seen as an omen — an intuitive reminder of unseen spiritual forces, where sacred ritual intertwined with ancestral folk beliefs.

Real Colors and Painterly Structure The composition is built on rich, luminous colors and evocative chiaroscuro:

• The Tabletop: A white tablecloth tinted with cool blues and grays holds the dark green wine bottle, a gleaming silver-gray goblet, solid metal candlesticks, and the warm brown prayer book with gilded pages.

• The Offerings: The golden-glazed, braided challah rests upon a white cloth with a blue rim, beside an oval plate with a purple edge displaying a fish glowing in rich emerald greens, limes, and turquoises.

• The Interior and Window: Warm ochre-yellow walls frame a small window looking out into the deep sapphire-navy night with a pale crescent moon, contrasting the dark outside world with the interior sanctuary (Shalom Bayit).

Signed lower center on the table frame („HAUSMANN”). „The Shabbat Evening” stands as a painted Kaddish honoring domestic holiness, tradition, and the memory of homes that once radiated sacred light.

Technical Specifications:

• Title: The Shabbat Evening / Szabasowy wieczór

• Series: Kaddish for Shtetl (from the 22-canvas cycle)

• Artist: Marek Hausmann

• Medium: Oil on canvas

• Dimensions: 60 × 80 cm (approx. 23.6 × 31.5 in)

• Year: 2026

• Signature: Signed lower center „HAUSMANN”

• Authenticity: Accompanied by an official Certificate of Authenticity (COA) signed by the artist.