Raquel Sanchez
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Raquel SanchezA longing for G-d, Prayer I (Shav’ah), 2023
Raquel Sanchez, A longing for G-d, Prayer I (Shav’ah)
About the Artwork
A Longing for G-d (Prayer I: Shav'ah) explores the most elemental expression of prayer—the soul's innate yearning to connect with its Divine source. Inspired by the Midrashic teaching that prayer unfolds through ten ascending forms of spiritual expression, Raquel Sanchez focuses here on Shav'ah, the primal cry of longing that arises from the deepest recesses of the human heart.
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The composition is remarkable in its simplicity and emotional power. Vast passages of darkness surround a luminous opening at the center of the painting, creating a profound dialogue between concealment and revelation. Emerging from within the darkness, a radiant rectangular window releases light that seems to dissolve the boundaries between the physical and spiritual worlds.
For Sanchez, prayer is not merely the recitation of words but an inner movement of consciousness. The dark surrounding forms suggest the uncertainties, limitations, and mysteries of earthly existence, while the brilliant opening evokes the possibility of transcendence. The painting captures that moment when longing itself becomes prayer—when desire for meaning, truth, and connection rises beyond language and enters the realm of the spirit.
The image may also be understood through the symbolism of the Beit HaMikdash, the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, traditionally described as a source of divine illumination for the entire world. The luminous opening recalls a sacred portal through which spiritual light continues to radiate across time and space. Simultaneously, it may represent the inner sanctuary of the human soul, where divine presence is encountered through reflection, yearning, and faith.
Subtle layers of light, shadow, and atmosphere create a sense of stillness that invites contemplation. Sanchez deliberately leaves the image open to interpretation, allowing viewers to enter the work through their own experiences of seeking, questioning, and hope. The painting does not provide answers; rather, it offers a space in which the search itself becomes sacred.
Through its elegant restraint and spiritual depth, A Longing for G-d transforms an ancient concept of prayer into a universal meditation on longing, faith, and the enduring human desire to reach toward the infinite.
Curatorial notes
Among Raquel Sanchez's spiritually inspired works, A Longing for G-d is notable for its remarkable economy of means. Using a restrained palette, atmospheric textures, and a single luminous form, the artist creates a work of profound emotional resonance. The painting recalls both mystical traditions and contemporary abstraction, balancing the material presence of paint with the immaterial qualities of light and spirit. Rather than illustrating prayer, Sanchez evokes its inner experience, allowing viewers to encounter the universal longing that lies at the heart of every spiritual journey.
₪ 54,250
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