Gabriel Mandel (1924–2010) - Ecclesiastical Interior

Gabriel Mandel (1924–2010) - "Ecclesiastical Interior" - Rare & Very Early Original Woodcut - 1945 - Hand-Signed & Numbered 2/30

Description:
An exceptional, rare museum-quality finding for collectors of 20th-century European graphic art and avant-garde history.

This piece is an authentic, original color woodcut (xilografia originale / bois gravé) created, hand-printed, and signed by the multi-faceted Italian polymath, scholar, and artist Gabriel Mandel (Gabriele Mandel Khân, 1924–2010).

Historical & Symbolic Significance:
Carved and dated within the block in 1945, this artwork stands as an incredibly significant early-career masterpiece. Created at the exact turning point of the end of World War II, when Mandel was just 21 years old, the print captures a powerful, solemn Romanesque/Byzantine cathedral interior.

What makes this specific print exceptionally fascinating is the brilliant interplay of names within the composition: On the left, inside the apse, the inscription "GABRIEL" is carved above a holy figure, clearly representing the iconographical depiction of the Archangel Gabriel. Meanwhile, on the lower right ground, the artist carved his own personal signature and date as "GABRIEL M. 1945". This unique and clever dual-presence of the name "Gabriel"—both as the heavenly archangel and the young mortal artist—adds an extraordinary layer of meaning, making it a deeply personal testament to Mandel’s early artistic identity.

About the Artist:
Gabriel Mandel was a true Renaissance man of the 20th century: a Professor of Psychology, a prominent art historian, an accomplished painter/ceramicist who exhibited at prestigious venues like the Venice Biennale, and later, the Grand Sheikh of the Jerrahi-Halveti Sufi Order in Italy. His works are highly intellectual, blending classical European traditions with deep spiritual esotericism.

Rarity & Condition:
This specific print is virtually undocumented in public digital archives, making it an incredibly scarce artifact from Mandel's early oeuvre. It is tightly numbered 2/30 from an extremely limited edition of only 30 copies worldwide.

Technique: Original color woodcut (Ksilorafi / Woodblock print).

Signature: Hand-signed and numbered by the artist in pencil on the lower margin.

Sheet Dimensions: 25.3 x 38.7 cm

Image/Print Dimensions: Approx. 25.3 x 31 cm

Condition: Very good vintage condition with rich, vibrant ink saturation.

An unmissable opportunity to acquire a piece of undocumented art history from one of Italy's most fascinating cultural minds.