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The Fire Came and Burnt the Stick

El Lissitzky1919

The Jewish Museum, New York

The Jewish Museum, New York
New York, United States

"Had Gadya," sung at the conclusion of the Passover seder, describes the purchase of a young goat, which is then eaten by a cat, which in turn is bitten by a dog. After a series of assailants, God destroys the final attacker, ending the vicious cycle. The song is an allegory for the persecution of the Jews, while demonstrating God's ultimate triumph over evil and death. The artist transforms "Had Gadya" into a metaphor for the triumph of the Bolshevik Revolution.

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  • Title: The Fire Came and Burnt the Stick
  • Creator: El Lissitzky
  • Date Created: 1919
  • Location: Kiev, Ukraine, Europe
  • Physical Dimensions: Sheet: 16 × 14 in. (40.6 × 35.6 cm)Image: 10 3/4 × 10 in. (27.3 × 25.4 cm)
  • Type: Works on Paper
  • Rights: https://thejewishmuseum.org/about-this-site#terms-conditions
  • External Link: View this object at thejewishmuseum.org
  • Medium: Lithograph on paper
The Jewish Museum, New York

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