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Heroes of Ancient Israel: The Playing Card Art of Arthur Szyk Arthur Szyk (1894, Lodz, Poland–1951, New Canaan, USA) was a driven man determined to serve his people through his art.  A passionate supporter of Jabotinsky’s Revisionist Zionists from at least the mid-1930s. Szyk’s art…
Masterpieces from the Bodleian Library “King Girded With Might,” Tripartite Mahzor, 14th century, courtesy Bodleian Library & Jewish Museum In the eyes of the ram lies the artist’s commentary on the Rosh HaShanah piyyut; “The King Girded with Strength.” From the Tripartite Mahzor (German 14th century),…
Chagall Redux Chagall’s reputation needs no burnishing and yet refinements are always welcome. Indeed the Nassau County Museum of Art has mounted a wonderfully extensive survey of Chagall’s works with a unique emphasis on his 1957 Bible series of hand-colored etchings that significantly casts many…
Beyond Hasidic Expressionism Passion of belief can certainly lead to passion of expression, especially for an artist.  Rosa Katzenelson’s paintings and digital artwork currently at the Hadas Gallery in Brooklyn could easily define the very essence of religious expressionism.  As a Chabad devotee, every aspect…
Jacqueline Nicholls: New Works Jacqueline Nicholls, a Jewish artist from England, presents us with a formidable challenge.  Namely; what is the role of a contemporary Jewish Woman artist and how does one confront patriarchal dominance? She presents her response to both queries in her current…
Forever Young, Forever Old: Panoramas of Israel Photographs seems like cruel little slices from the past, frozen images of what will never be again.  Since we assume that the photographic image is, by and large, a factual view of some reality, it is inherently believed…
Finding Moses: Part I As the year draws to a close we have the book of Deuteronomy before us week after week, reviewing many halachos and reminding us of our harrowing trek through the wilderness. Moshe Rabbeinu is the stern narrator, guiding us to the…
Paintings by Diana Kurz Reaching back in time to reclaim a family for herself and, in a yahrzeit moment, to rekindle lives snuffed out, Diana Kurz’s paintings stand as testaments to victims of the Holocaust, one by one.  After a successful 20 year career as…
Rylands Haggadah: Medieval Jewish Art in Context The Rylands Haggadah, created in Catalonia Spain sometime around 1330, is a towering masterpiece of Jewish Art.  In addition to pages of piyutim surrounded by ornate decorative and figurative micrography, richly decorated Haggadah text and blessings, there is…
Bartolo’s Sacred Narrative The Museum of Biblical Art in New York has mounted a remarkable exhibition with Bartolo di Fredi’s 14th century masterpiece, Adoration of the Magi.  This small but powerful exhibition, but one of many in the 7-year history of MOBIA, is an exploration…
The Book of Lamentations: Illustrated by Mark Podwal In 1974 Mark Podwal, noted author, illustrator and physician, created a spare, illustrated Book of Lamentations.   This complete English translation is graced with 28 black and white illustrations, or more correctly, reflections, on the tragic text. Podwal…
Holzman’s Torah For the Eyes Earlier this year I was presenting my survey of Jewish art, “A Jewish Art Primer,” in a West Hartford, Connecticut synagogue and during the intermission a local artist, David Holzman, introduced himself to me.  He relayed his rich and fascinating…

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