Art and Politics of Arthur Szyk [Hardcover]

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
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"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

'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.

Arthur Szyk (1894-1951), a gifted book illustrator and caricaturist, and determined political activist, ceaselessly defended the rights of Jews and advocated on their behalf. During World War II Szyk redirected his artistry into political cartoons that unmasked the face of the Nazi enemy and mobilized popular opinion. Hundreds of illustrations, rendered in color and with intricate detail, are included here.