Chani Cohen Zada

View All Works

Chani Cohen ZadaAs yet exaltest thyself, 2017

Chani Cohen Zada, As yet exaltest thyself

oil on panel
60 × 80 cm
24 × 31 in

About the Artwork

As Yet Exaltest Thyself presents a carefully arranged collection of symbolic objects: a crown, a dark cloth draped across a wooden rocking chair, and a gathering of stones resting upon the seat. The title echoes the words spoken to Pharaoh in the Book of Exodus: "As yet exaltest thou thyself against My people" (Exodus 9:17). Rather than depicting a biblical narrative, Chani Cohen Zada creates a contemplative still life that explores the tension between power and humility, appearance and reality. The ordinary chair becomes a stage upon which these enduring human themes quietly unfold.

Continue reading

The biblical phrase from which the painting takes its title is addressed to Pharaoh at a moment when pride prevents him from recognizing a reality greater than himself. Throughout Jewish tradition, Pharaoh becomes an enduring symbol of arrogance, resistance, and the illusion of absolute power.

In Cohen Zada's interpretation, the crown serves as an emblem of authority and human ambition, yet it is not worn and does not rest upon a throne. Instead, it appears within a quiet arrangement of objects: a simple chair, a draped cloth, and a collection of stones. This displacement gives the crown a sense of vulnerability, suggesting that worldly power is temporary and dependent upon context.

The stones introduce a different kind of presence. Heavy, silent, and enduring, they suggest permanence, memory, and the weight of reality itself. Set against the crown, they remind the viewer that what appears powerful may be fleeting, while what seems simple or humble may ultimately endure.

The dark cloth draped over the arm of the chair adds an element of concealment and softness. It partially interrupts the form of the chair and creates a mood of introspection. As in much of Cohen Zada's work, meaning emerges through close attention to ordinary objects and the relationships between them.

As Yet Exaltest Thyself ultimately becomes a meditation on humility. The painting suggests that true significance is not found in crowns or displays of authority, but in recognizing one's place within a larger order. Through its quiet symbolism, the work transforms a simple arrangement of objects into a timeless reflection on pride, perspective, and spiritual awareness.

About the Artist — Chani Cohen Zada

One of the main obstacles that a novice painter encounters when he comes to paint from observation is a conceptual conflict. This is because everything is actually made up of two things: meaning, and substance. The mind, refers to the word through its meaning for us, and not through its materiality. And therefore the painter gives an iconic interpretation of what he sees, which is not compatible with reality. It takes a lot of hours of training to teach the brain to separate these two things and pass on to the painter the relevant information for the painting, which is the material interpretation only

₪ 26,250

Inquire about this work →

Email