The Art and Politics of Arthur Szyk [Hardcover]

Steven Luckert (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 2002

'An artist, and especially a Jewish artist, cannot be neutral in these times...Our life is involved in a terrible tragedy, and I am resolved to serve my people with all my art, with all my talent, with all my knowledge' - Arthur Szyk, 1934. Arthur Szyk was one of the most creative and determined political activists of his time. A gifted book illustrator and illuminator, a skillful caricaturist, and a crusader for causes, this multifaceted artist ceaselessly defended the rights of Jews and advocated on their behalf. Skilled in medieval and Persian miniature painting, Szyk redirected his artistry during World War II into political cartoons that unmasked the face of the Nazi enemy and mobilized popular opinion. His caricatures became daily fare in newspapers and magazines throughout the United States.In 1942 alone, Szyk's war-driven cartoons were published in "Esquire", "Collier's", "Look", "Liberty", "Time", the "Saturday Review of Literature", and the "Saturday Evening Post". One magazine reported that Szyk cartoons were as popular as Betty Grable pin-ups for troops heading overseas. "The Art and Politics of Arthur Szyk" places the extraordinary artist and his work into the context of the turbulent times in which he lived (1894-1951). Hundreds of illustrations - rendered in the artist's original brilliant colors and painstakingly intricate detail - were drawn from private and public collections around the world. The illuminations, paintings, prints, line drawings, lithographs, posters, magazine covers, and stamps are still vibrant and compelling. The political caricatures still resonate.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

The name Arthur Szyk may not be familiar to most art historians, but the curators at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum hope to remedy that with a new exhibition and catalog devoted to this little-known Jewish artist. A gifted and successful illuminator and book illustrator during the 1930s, Szyk recognized the threat of Nazism and devoted his art and career to combating it. With his pen and brush as weapons, Szyk produced scathing satirical drawings and cartoons in some of America's most popular publications, awakening millions to the realities of the Holocaust. Luckert, a historian and independent curator, provides a well-researched and detailed examination of the life of this complex and driven artist, considering him as a Jewish artist, wartime caricaturist, and, finally, Holocaust documentor. The book's illustrations aptly display Szyk's dual skills as a fine artist and a shaper of public opinion. In the end, Szyk's importance is measured less by his artistic contributions than by his unwavering efforts on behalf of Jews. Recommended for libraries with strong holdings in the Holocaust and Jewish history. Kraig A. Binkowski, Delaware Art Museum, Wilmington
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Review

"An artist, and especially a Jewish artist, cannot be neutral in these times.... Our life is involved in a terrible tragedy, and I am resolved to serve my people with all my art, with all my talent, with all my knowledge." Arthur Szyk, 1934

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 152 pages
• Publisher: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (June 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0896047083
• ISBN-13: 978-0896047082
• Product Dimensions: 12.6 x 9.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #589,234 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific!, April 30, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Art and Politics of Arthur Szyk (Hardcover)

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and viewing Szyk's wonderous art. The biography is well written and interesting. The artwork is intriguing and thought-provoking. I highly recommend this book to afficionados of Jewish Art and Literature.

1 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Praise By Association, December 28, 2007

By 

Peter P. Fuchs (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Art and Politics of Arthur Szyk (Hardcover)

I recently read the 1993 Doctoral Dissertation by the author, Steven Luckert, which is entitled: Jesuits, Freemasons, Illuminati and Jacobins. This excellent dissertation describes in detail the genesis of all the beyond-the-pale conspiracy theories which unfortunately are propounded still today by hacks and nuts, as they were at their start in the eighteenth century. Luckert is now chief curator at the Holocaust Museum.