Grigorescu, Felicia: Forme de artă în cimitire evreieşti din nord-vestul Romaniei (Satu Mare, 2013)
Glosar de termeni
after the other, two of the same size, the one on the right significantly bigger, only one has an inscription in the rectangle. An entire sector of the cemetery is dominated by these shapes. The height of this type varies between 1 - 2.5 metres. A variant of the tomb stone included in the type I.A.l.a., is the one in which in the place of the little lateral columns there are poles of dimensions adapted to the proportions of the stone. This architectural element, though almost miniature, is treated with elegance, and becomes the carrier of a great array of specific ornaments: embossed crests (Pic. 9), deep grooves (Pic. 10), extremities highlighted by embossing or multiple marginal shapes. Although its surfaces are reduced and narrowed, it sometimes has a rich decoration, folded on the prolonged shape of the pole, such as garlands made of leaves, flowers, or mixed, but also other ornamental elements. This variant with the pseudo-poles widens a lot the stone, changing the height/width rapport, which gets close to the rapport 1 x 1 or the rapport becoming even sub unitary (Pic. 12), which determines the shape to lose some of its burst, specific to the tomb stone with little columns, becoming more "fixed" to the ground. These variants are more frequent in the cemeteries from Târgu Lăpuş and in those from Oradea. The elegance and the distinction of these types of tomb stones from the Jewish cemeteries from the studied area, are given by the harmonious proportions of the shapes, (the most frequent, 2:1), but especially the careful finishing of the architectural elements: the different kinds of little columns which flank the area of the epitaph, the various shapes of the pediments and cornices, the discretion of the decoration from the pediment. Through the carefulness with which these are executed, they distance themselves from the area of Jewish popular art . The execution of the sculpture is only rarely harsh, encountered in some rural cemeteries but also in the old areas of the urban ones. This barbaric way of treatment, at its turn conveys the ingenuity of the uneducated craftsman... with its savoury but sometimes naive imperfections, offering them... a high capacity of to thrill18. A great number of tomb stones, mostly those which are of great dimensions, are attached two by two, thus their breathtaking feature is enhanced. They seem to be identical, but if one studies them carefully it can be noticed slight differences, the master customized them by the shape of little columns, or by the ornamentation chosen for pediments. We think that this type of tomb stone has been developed in relation with many causes. Consequently we can mention a few: the most important would be the narrative character of the Jewish art which appeared after the emancipation of the Jews, social phenomenon which influenced all forms of artistic expression, even the cemetery, a space where the Jews could have always expressed themselves more freely. Similar to the synagogue, the end of XIX century brings to the cemetery too the influences of desire for individualization and even proclaiming the own identity. Another factor which had a powerful impact was the use of a new material for construction, concrete respectively. By replacing the stone for tombs construction, one 77 S. Sanie, Dăinuire prin piatră. Monumentele cimitirului medieval de la Şiret, Ed. Hasefer, Bucureşti, (From now on: Dăinuire...), p. 269 Paul Petrescu,, Istorie şi simbolistică în arta populară a evreilor din România, în Secolul XX, nr. 282- 283,6-7/1984, p. 125 78 116
