Libra

In Libra, Kopel Gurwin interprets the zodiac sign of the Scales through a seated female figure holding a delicate balance. Her raised hand supports a horizontal beam from which two small white pans are suspended, while her other hand rests beneath one of them. The arrangement places the instrument of balance at the center of the composition, giving visual expression to the sign’s traditional association with equilibrium and measured judgment.

The figure is rendered in luminous shades of cobalt blue, turquoise, and pale gray, contrasted with a face of soft pink and elaborately curled crimson hair. Her stylized posture and the rounded contours of her clothing create a sense of composure, while the slender golden lines suspending the scales introduce a lighter, more intricate visual rhythm. Against the dark ground, these carefully differentiated shapes remain clearly defined.

An ornamental frame of interlocking foliate forms surrounds the central image, unfolding in rich greens, emerald, and turquoise, with accents of violet and deep blue. Along its outer edge, a continuous sequence of blue circular motifs establishes a measured rhythm that echoes the theme of balance. The precise cutting and layering of felt, together with the visible stitching along the contours, give the work its distinctive tactile character. To the left of the figure, the Hebrew inscription Mazal Moznaim appears in warm brown and ochre letterforms, integrated into the pictorial arrangement.

Libra is traditionally represented by the scales, an emblem of balance, harmony, and the weighing of opposing forces. Gurwin approaches this familiar symbol through an intimate human figure rather than an isolated object, bringing together gesture, ornament, and color. The resulting composition balances decorative abundance with the quiet symmetry of its central motif.