Illustration to Aggadah - El Lissitzky

A modernist lithograph by El Lissitzky, featuring symbolic imagery and Hebrew calligraphy from his 1917 series for the Had Gadya.

This lithograph is part of a series created by El Lissitzky for the 'Had Gadya' (One Little Goat), a traditional song recited during the Passover Seder. The work reflects the artist's early engagement with Jewish folk art and modernist graphic design. Lissitzky synthesises traditional Hebrew calligraphy with the geometric sensibilities that would later define his contribution to the Suprematist and Constructivist movements.

The composition is framed by an arched structure containing Hebrew text. At the centre, a large, singular eye dominates the upper portion, positioned above a hand clutching a sword. The imagery is stark and symbolic, drawing upon the narrative of the song, which recounts a sequence of events involving a goat, a cat, a dog, and other figures. Lissitzky employs a limited palette of red, green, and black, using these colours to create contrast against the off-white paper ground. The figures are rendered with a combination of fluid, calligraphic lines and geometric abstraction.

Lissitzky's approach to this project demonstrates his interest in the book as a total work of art. He treats the page as a dynamic space where text and image interact. The inclusion of the Hebrew script is not merely decorative; it is integrated into the structural logic of the design. This piece offers a glimpse into the artist's transition from his early illustrative work to the more radical, non-objective compositions he produced in the 1920s. It remains a significant example of early twentieth-century Jewish avant-garde art, capturing a moment where traditional religious themes met the visual language of modernism.