Yosef Douer bears from a family with a deep connection to art. From a young age Yosef would spend his spare hours painting and exploring. His search for artistic expression caused him to wander from the realists of the 19th century of the likes of Isidor Kaufmann to the cubists of the earlier 20th century of the likes of Pablo Picasso and Fernand Leger, continuing to Post War Jackson Pollock and ending up with the contemporary artists like Andy Warhol. Binding these expressions together Douer has reinvented unique tools with which he is capable to use to express his deep devotion to Hashem and His Torah.

This exhibition, entitled "Panim Chadashot, New Faces" is an outgrowth and a product of our unique times. At a time where social distancing and masked faces have become the new norm, an unfortunate tendency may occur that people become insensitive and disconnected from their fellow human being. Douer contradicts this as he examines the innermost expression of his subjects. 

The artist is an expert portrait artist, yet he does not end with the superficial "pretty picture of a Rabbi". As a Rabbi in yeshiva, Douer understands the depths of the individual and his sprirituality. Using this gift, he takes what he needs and omits what is superfluous to achieve the innermost expression of the subject. During the process, suddenly the artist realizes that the painting is "finished", yet this is only his side of the creation. 

The next stage is left to the viewers. Each viewer, and each time a viewer studies the work again, is created a new expression. No two people will view Douer's work in the same light. Each viewer will see a bit of himself and his own inner being (penimiyous). 

It is with great pride that Rosenbach Contemporary is able to show the initial solo exhibition of this potentially great artist.

Uri Rosenbach