Three paintings on view at the Royal Academy of Arts are causing “significant concern” to Jews, the Board of Deputies of British Jews wrote to the London museum this week.
One portrait is titled “The mass slaughter of defenseless women and children is not how you de-radicalize Gaza.” The second picture includes a portrayal of a sign that states “Jews say stop genocide on Palestinians: Not in our name,” and the third, which includes a swastika, draws parallels between “the recent conflict in Gaza” and the Nazis, per the artist.
The nearly 265-year-old umbrella organization for British Jews questions “the judgment of allowing these pictures with their highly-politically charged and controversial messages into the RA’s summer exhibitions, particularly with no attempt to present any context or contextualizing works which might express a contrary view,” wrote Andrew Gilbert, vice president of the Board of Deputies.
“It risks giving the impression that the RA is taking a political stance on a very controversial issue, which would seem at odds with its objectives, not to mention its charitable status,” he added.
