Overview

Of the late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Jewish artists, a large number turned toward radical socialist politics. These artists, even the most secularized among them, were deeply influenced by the Jewish traditions, teachings, and culture in which they were raised. The communal thrust of Judaism that calls upon Jews to bear the responsibility for the moral, spiritual, and material welfare of their community informed the creative output of these artists. Baigell explores the meaningful yet little-examined connections between religious heritage, social concerns, and political radicalism in the Jewish American art world from the time of the Great Migration from Eastern Europe in the 1880s to the beginning of World War II. Focusing on political cartoons published in left-wing Yiddish- and English-language newspapers and magazines, Baigell shows how artists commented on current events using biblical and other Jewish references within a medium of expression that had the widest possible audience. Set against the backdrop of the Russian Revolution, the Depression, and the rise of fascism during the 1930s, the book examines the work of such well-known artists as William Gropper and Mark Rothko, and brings to light the work of lesser-known artists, such as Leon Israel and Louis Ribak. Artists’ personal correspondence, newspaper articles, and the writings of art critics all reveal the intimate connections between Jewish memories, religious customs, and radical socialist concerns.

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9780815633969

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Reviews

Matthew Baigell, the premier scholar of Jewish American art, has written what promises to be the definitive study of its political and social concerns in the 1930s, tracing them back to the 1880s, and showing how they were informed by the artists' religious heritage. Baigell's book is a major contribution to the understanding of an important period in American art as well as to an understanding of the importance of the Jewishness of many prominent American artists.--Donald Kuspit, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Art History and Philosophy, State University of New York at Stony Brook Baigell reaches deep into new sources to present a stimulating and needed treatment of a neglected topic in the annals of Jewish, American and political art. I read the book wanting to know more about a few artists I was already familiar with but came away with a fascination for a whole generation of Jewish artists that is mostly lost to history.--Samuel D. Gruber, President, International Survey of Jewish Monuments Baigell, an art historian, reflects on the social, religious, and historical reasons that Jews have aligned with left-wing causes both in the United States and abroad. The author then examines greeting cards, posters, photographs, political cartoons, and fine art to show how the artists' political views are manifested in the topics and esthetics of their work. There are numerous black and white illustrations. Includes artists' biographies, and a glossary of Yiddish terms, along with bibliographical references and index. Recommended --Sheryl Stahl, Senior Associate Librarian, Frances-Henry Library, HUC-JIR, Los Angeles AJL Reviews A magnificent piece of work and an important contribution--essential, basic reading--for anyone interested in the period from the beginning of the Great Migration to the aftermath of World War II and the place of Jewish artists in shaping and responding to the American world during that era --Ori Z. Sultes, Georgetown University H-Judaic Reviews

Baigell reaches deep into new sources to present a stimulating and needed treatment of a neglected topic in the annals of Jewish, American and political art. I read the book wanting to know more about a few artists I was already familiar with but came away with a fascination for a whole generation of Jewish artists that is mostly lost to history.--Samuel D. Gruber, President, International Survey of Jewish Monuments Matthew Baigell, the premier scholar of Jewish American art, has written what promises to be the definitive study of its political and social concerns in the 1930s, tracing them back to the 1880s, and showing how they were informed by the artists' religious heritage. Baigell's book is a major contribution to the understanding of an important period in American art as well as to an understanding of the importance of the Jewishness of many prominent American artists.--Donald Kuspit, Professor Emeritus, State University of New York at Stony Brook Baigell, an art historian, reflects on the social, religious, and historical reasons that Jews have aligned with left-wing causes both in the United States and abroad. The author then examines greeting cards, posters, photographs, political cartoons, and fine art to show how the artists' political views are manifested in the topics and esthetics of their work. There are numerous black and white illustrations. Includes artists' biographies, and a glossary of Yiddish terms, along with bibliographical references and index. Recommended.--AJL Reviews A magnificent piece of work and an important contribution--essential, basic reading--for anyone interested in the period from the beginning of the Great Migration to the aftermath of World War II and the place of Jewish artists in shaping and responding to the American world during that era.--H-Judaic Reviews

Author Information

Matthew Baigell is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Art History at Rutgers University, USA. He is the author of numerous books, including American Artists, Jewish Images, and Jewish Art in America: An Introduction.

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