Objects

Black and white depiction, filling almost the whole page, of two animals: a deer and a unicorn (a horselike creature but with a single horn in the middle of its head). They were both anthropomorphised – to make their appearance more friendly to children.

They are standing next to each other, just like people, with arms crossed, dressed in jumpers with wide black and white stripes. Their eyes and (schematic) smiles are human. The deer’s legs are decked with patterns resembling puzzles or some map outline of an island.

Initial drafts and parts of the drawing that has been discarded can be visible: especially an elbow outline which was crossed out three times.

Deer is a typical motif in the Jewish tradition. The animal is mentioned in in the Talmudic sentences of the Fathers, Pirkei Avot (5,20): “Be strong as a leopard, and swift as an eagle, and fleet as a gazelle, and brave as a lion, to do the will of your Father who is in heaven.” (after: M. Wodziński, "Groby cadyków w Polsce. O chasydzkiej literaturze nagrobnej i jej kontekstach", Wrocław 1998, p. 96, footnote 8; Polish trans. by Salomon Spitzer – 1926).

Unicorn is also a motif characteristic for the sacral art of Judaism (widespread in the 17th century in the Eastern Europe). It has many symbolic meanings in the Jewish culture, e.g. of a righteous man (for which reason it is often depicted, i.a., on the matzevahs), it can also stand for salvation.