Overview

Etty Schwartz was born in Jerusalem in 1970 and studied in the photography department at Hadassah Academic College. She has been working on an ongoing project since 1998 - 2022 that presents a series of images inspired by Mendeleev's periodic table of elements, illustrating how the number of electrons in an element's atomic structure influences its properties and bonding capabilities in nature.

The periodic table serves as both a catalog of elements and a key to understanding material properties. Schwartz's photographic chemistry studies ignited her fascination with the relationship between chemistry and photography, leading her to integrate development processes into her artistic practice. As an educator, she shares her passion for chemistry and photography with her students.

Her work focuses on discarded objects—corks, soap remnants, and household waste—often featuring round forms. The photographs explore the materiality of these items, captured against white or black backgrounds in soft natural light. Some images highlight textures sharply, while others intentionally create a sense of ambiguity.

By sorting these photographs according to themes, Schwartz adopts the model of the periodic table, allowing for an associative comparison of organic essence and fundamental qualities. Each axis represents contrasting concepts—alive/dead, black/white, clean/dirty, etc.—enabling a unique perspective on each "element."

This arrangement reflects the passage of time and the aesthetic values of the objects. Schwartz's exploration also leads to philosophical insights about the parallels between chemical bonding and emotional connections, transforming her catalog into a visual language that captures the effects of time and space.

In line with the second law of thermodynamics, which states that entropy tends to maximize in a closed system, Schwartz’s work illustrates how contrasts and absences contribute to a balanced whole, harmonious yet diverse in its components.

Works
  • Etty Schwartz, Lichtzwang - כורח אור, 2025
    Lichtzwang - כורח אור, 2025
  • Etty Schwartz, October, 2025
    October, 2025
  • Etty Schwartz, Tar, 2025
    Tar, 2025
  • Etty Schwartz, Untitled, Ashkelon, 2025
    Untitled, Ashkelon, 2025
  • Etty Schwartz, Untitled, Ashkelon, 2025
    Untitled, Ashkelon, 2025
  • Etty Schwartz, Haim Weizmann's cuboard, Rehovot #018, 2022
    Haim Weizmann's cuboard, Rehovot #018, 2022
  • Etty Schwartz, Haim Weizmann’s Fume cupboard, Rehovot, 2022
    Haim Weizmann’s Fume cupboard, Rehovot, 2022
  • Etty Schwartz, Untitled, 2022
    Untitled, 2022
  • Etty Schwartz, Untitled, Jerusalem, 2004
    Untitled, Jerusalem, 2004
  • Etty Schwartz, Cd Cadmium, 1998 - 2022
    Cd Cadmium, 1998 - 2022
  • Etty Schwartz, Ce Cerium, 1998 - 2022
    Ce Cerium, 1998 - 2022
  • Etty Schwartz, Cn Copernicium, 1998 - 2022
    Cn Copernicium, 1998 - 2022
  • Etty Schwartz, Co Cobalt, 1998 - 2022
    Co Cobalt, 1998 - 2022
  • Etty Schwartz, Fe Iron, 1998 - 2022
    Fe Iron, 1998 - 2022
  • Etty Schwartz, Gd Gadolinium, 1998 - 2022
    Gd Gadolinium, 1998 - 2022
  • Etty Schwartz, H Helium, 1998 - 2022
    H Helium, 1998 - 2022
  • Etty Schwartz, Hg Mercury, 1998 - 2022
    Hg Mercury, 1998 - 2022
  • Etty Schwartz, Kr Krypton, 1998 - 2022
    Kr Krypton, 1998 - 2022
  • Etty Schwartz, Mn Manganese, 1998 - 2022
    Mn Manganese, 1998 - 2022
  • Etty Schwartz, N Nitrogen, 1998 - 2022
    N Nitrogen, 1998 - 2022
  • Etty Schwartz, Ne Neodymium, 1998 - 2022
    Ne Neodymium, 1998 - 2022
  • Etty Schwartz, Pt Platinum, 1998 - 2022
    Pt Platinum, 1998 - 2022
  • Etty Schwartz, Pu Plutonium, 1998 - 2022
    Pu Plutonium, 1998 - 2022
  • Etty Schwartz, Rh Rhenium, 1998 - 2022
    Rh Rhenium, 1998 - 2022
  • Etty Schwartz, Rh Rhodium, 1998 - 2022
    Rh Rhodium, 1998 - 2022
  • Etty Schwartz, V Vanadium, 1998 - 2022
    V Vanadium, 1998 - 2022
Exhibitions