This work of acrylic paint on paper releases a burst of energy and pain while invoking the beginning of the traditional prayer for the dead, written in Moshe Gershuni’s (1936-2017) own handwriting. The image, imbued with a visceral power conveyed by its strong color and brushstrokes, evokes the angel of death. The black dot represents the hollow eye of someone who has witnessed unspeakable loss. Gershuni painted this work, part of the Israel Museum’s collection, in response to a collection of Holocaust-era photographs. (Image copyright Israel Museum, Jerusalem; work copyright the artist’s estate)