Iconic Jewish woodcuts

Customary to Jewish books are illustrations of Jewish customs and rituals. These images are used, for example, in Sifre Minhagim: books of customs. They were printed in different parts of Europe in the 16th until the 18th century. The texts describe concisely and plainly how people should carry out Jewish customs and rituals.   

The woodcuts contribute to the enormous popularity of the Sifre Minhagim. The images were copied countless times with only minimal variations. According to the American artist Mark Podwal, these age-old woodcuts of Jewish rituals could use a make-over. In a series of collages, Podwal modernizes the woodcuts by adding another layer to the image.  He makes connections with contemporary rituals and adds objects to these centuries-old illustrations, such as an enormous light bulb, a microwave and a hair dryer.