Israelite Tel Suite (Four Variations)

The Israelite Tel Suite is a collection of four intaglio collagraphs, depicting important archaeological sites relating to Biblical Israel. A tel is a mound covering the site of some ancient settlement, generally consisting of many layers of rubble and artifacts left by succeeding civilizations. Strata accentuated by horizontal lines divide the picture into three levels, forming a cross-section of archeological time.

In the Israelite Tel Suite, Bowden brings together earth and time, incorporating the present landscape of each site, finds embedded in strata, and centered in each piece, a significant specific object relating to the tel's history. Each is a limited edition of 100 with 15 Artist's Proofs, printed on Arches Buff, 100% rag paper.

• Edition of 100 hand-pulled collagraphs
• 30" x 22"

Gezer

Excavations at Gezer uncovered a boundary inscription that identified the city's name. Burial sites were found which included pottery, plates, and jars, even though the Torah forbade this custom. The Gezer Calendar, centered within the print (950 BC), is an agricultural calendar listing the months of harvest, in gathering and planting.

Hazor

Hazor was a large Canaanite and Israelite city in Northern Galilee near Mount Hermon. A Canaanite sanctuary was found there which contained a number of basalt steles, one with two hands raised toward a divine lunar symbol of a crescent moon and circle.

Lachish

Significant finds at Lachish include ostraca of great interest for linguistic research of ancient Hebrew. This one is written in a cursive script, the most developed form of Paleo-Hebrew. The lower section of the print is a portion of a mural found at Ninevah depicting the Israelites being marched into captivity by King Sennacherib.

Megiddo

Megiddo is an ancient tel in the lush Jezreel Valley of upper Israel, which revealed twenty or more layers of civilization. Mitchner's book, The Source, was inspired from the finds at this site. The most famous artifact from this tel is this lion seal, with the Hebrew inscription, "belonging to Shema, servant of Jeroboam."