Seder (The Passover Meal) (Der Oster-Abend)

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Matzoh, the four questions, the ten plagues, and Elijah's cup are elements of the beloved Jewish holiday of Passover, which commemorates the emancipation of the Israelites from slavery and their exodus from Egypt. It is celebrated at home with a special meal-the seder-that follows a service contained in the Haggadah. The holiday also holds significance for Christians, since the Last Supper was a Passover meal. In fact, this painting was originally titled "Easter Eve."

Mother shares the spotlight with her husband, since she is always a majestic force in the home. Their guest wears a long coat and cap that signify him as an Eastern European Jew. On a rear table stand four bottles of wine, symbolizing the four glasses of wine drunk during the seder. Signaling the end of the meal, one son has opened the front door for the prophet Elijah.

Source: The Jewish Museum, New York, MORITZ DANIEL OPPENHEIM: SCENES FROM FRANKFURT'S JEWISH PAST, July 2-December 10, 2000.

Provenance: the artist's family (after 1866; sold to Hermann Cramer); Hermann Cramer, Frankfurt, Germany (until d. 1919); his wife, Hedwig Cramer, Frankfurt, Germany (1919-d. 1934); her son, Sally H. Cramer, Hamburg, Germany, later London, England (1934-d.1952); his son, Robert Cramer (1952); [sale, ?London, England, about 1952]?.Oscar Gruss, New York, N.Y.(until 1999)

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Published References: Heuberger, Georg and Anton Merk, eds. MORITZ DANIEL OPPENHEIM: DIE ENTDECKUNG DES JÜDISCHEN SELBSTBEWUSSTSEINS IN DER KUNST. JEWISH IDENTITY IN 19TH CENTURY ART. Köln: Wienand, 1999, no. VI.30, pp. 252, 294, 375.

Kleeblatt, Norman L. THE PAINTINGS OF MORITZ OPPENHEIM: JEWISH LIFE IN 19TH CENTURY GERMANY. Exh. brochure. New York: The Jewish Museum, New York, 1981.

Oppenheim, Moritz. BILDER AUS DEM ALTJÜDISCHEN FAMILIEN. Frankfurt am Main, Verlag Von Heinrich Keller, 1882, no. 13.

This information may change as the result of ongoing research