Asher's artistic ability is seen as a mystery because art does not run in his family. Asher is the first person in the family to really draw for enjoyment and a learning experience. "Asher Lev was the juncture point of two significant family trees, the apex as it were, of a triangle seminal with Jewish potentiality and frightened with Jewish responsibility. But he was also born with a gift"(p.11). I believe that the gift Asher is referring to is his drawing ability.

When Asher draws his mother as the way he really sees her-he is criticized and told it was disrespectful. This is because Asher seems to be rebelling against the nor-his family and the world. Asher sees the world as it is-not like how every one tells him it should be. "After a moment she said, ;But why didn't you draw pretty birds, Asher? And the flowers, Asher, why didn't you draw the flowers?'"(p.13)

Asher is left out it seems during his mother's illness. I has a huge impact on Asher at the age of 6. He doesn't know what is right and wrong. Asher tries to do what she wants him to do and draw birds, but when she pushes him away he draws dead birds. His mother wants Asher to see the world as beautiful and not the pain and sadness that she sees because of her brother's death. She wants the world to be beautiful. "'You should make the world pretty, Asher.' his mother said. 'I don't like the world, mama. It's not pretty. I won't draw pretty.' Asher said"(p.32). Asher sees the world as it really is not the way people want him to perceive it. Because the world isn’t full of happiness, Asher draws sad.

Art for Asher is therapeutic. It helps Asher express how he is feeling. Asher is able to show how he feels that his mother is no longer his sister and is really no longer there for him. It also lets him express how his father is always busy with work and the Rebbe. Asher is able to show the contrast of light and dark when he meets the Russian Jew. He is able to understand and really know what the Russian Jew is feeling through is art. This shows that Asher is able to express his feelings and emotions of what goes on in the world around him in his art.

To Asher his art is priceless. He is unwilling to sell his art because it is a part of him. When his uncle calls him a "little Chagall" Asher responds with no, "My name is Asher Lev." Asher does not want to be associated with anyone else, this is his art work, his feelings. The art is a way for him to express himself and the art is more valuable to him than money can buy. This is why Asher is mad about selling his art work to his uncle.