Raquel Sanchez
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Raquel SanchezBarchi Nafshi (My Nefesh praises Hashem), 2023
Raquel Sanchez, Barchi Nafshi (My Nefesh praises Hashem)
About the Artwork
Barchi Nafshi (My Soul Praises Hashem) is inspired by Psalm 104, one of the most magnificent biblical hymns celebrating the beauty, wisdom, and grandeur of creation. The psalmist gazes upon the heavens, the seas, the mountains, and all living creatures, recognizing the Divine Presence that sustains and animates the world. In response, the soul can do little more than praise. "Barchi Nafshi et Hashem"—"My soul praises Hashem"—becomes both declaration and invitation.
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In this luminous painting, Raquel Sanchez creates a vision of creation bathed in light. Soft expanses of turquoise, aquamarine, pale blue, gold, and white flow across the canvas, dissolving distinctions between sky, water, cloud, and earth. The composition evokes the opening verses of the psalm, where Hashem is described as being "enwrapped with light like a garment" and stretching out the heavens like a curtain.
The painting possesses a remarkable sense of serenity and movement simultaneously. Delicate passages of color drift across the surface like clouds carried by a gentle wind, while shimmering reflections suggest sunlight dancing upon water. Gold accents emerge from within the cooler palette, creating moments of radiance that feel almost sacramental—glimpses of Divine beauty hidden within the natural world.
Rather than depicting a specific landscape, Sanchez creates a spiritual atmosphere. The viewer is invited into a state of contemplation where creation itself becomes prayer. Water, sky, and light merge into a harmonious whole, reflecting the psalm's vision of a universe sustained by Divine wisdom. Every brushstroke contributes to an impression of abundance, grace, and quiet wonder.
The work also reflects the central message of Psalm 104: that all existence depends upon its Creator. The sea, the clouds, the living creatures, and humanity itself look toward Hashem for sustenance and purpose. In this painting, the vastness of creation is balanced by an intimate sense of gratitude. The soul recognizes its place within a larger order and responds with praise.
Both meditative and uplifting, Barchi Nafshi becomes a visual song of thanksgiving. Through its radiant palette and atmospheric beauty, the painting encourages viewers to pause, observe, and rediscover the wonder of creation. Like the psalm that inspired it, the work ultimately becomes an expression of joy, humility, and reverence before the majesty of Hashem's world.
Curatorial notes
In Barchi Nafshi, Sanchez transforms the themes of Psalm 104 into a luminous abstract landscape that celebrates creation as an expression of Divine wisdom. Her delicate palette of blues, aquas, whites, and golds creates an atmosphere of peace and transcendence, while the fluid brushwork evokes the ever-changing beauty of the natural world. The painting succeeds not by illustrating the psalm literally, but by capturing its emotional and spiritual essence. The result is a contemporary hymn in color—an invitation to experience wonder, gratitude, and praise through the language of paint.
₪ 52,500
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