Jewish Icons

With the help of over one hundred illustrations spanning three centuries, this title investigates the role of visual images in European Jewish history. It shows how the coming of the modern period expanded the relationship of Jews to the visual realm far beyond the religious context. "A welcome introduction to the question of Jewish understandings of, and involvement with, visual culture."—Walter Cahn, author of Romanesque Manuscripts "Cohen's analysis of images of Jews advances swiftly beyond the history of stereotypes in favor of a complexity of mutual perception, and his depiction of images by Jews challenges the standard assumption of the anti-visuality of Jewish culture."—Michael P. Steinberg, Cornell University "Richard Cohen's work draws both on his profound knowledge of modern Jewish history and his awareness of the importance of art to a full understanding of the past."—Vivian B. Mann, Morris and Eva Feld Chair of Judaica, The Jewish Museum With the help of over one hundred illustrations spanning three centuries, Richard Cohen investigates the role of visual images in European Jewish history. The interaction of Jews with the visual arts takes place, as Cohen says, in a vast gallery of prints, portraits, books, synagogue architecture, ceremonial art, modern Jewish painting and sculpture, political broadsides, monuments, medals, and memorabilia. Pointing to recent scholarship that overturns the stereotype of Jews as people of the text, unconcerned with the visual, Cohen shows how the coming of the modern period expanded the relationship of Jews to the visual realm far beyond the religious context. Toward the end of the nineteenth century, the study and collecting of Jewish art became a legitimate and even passionate pursuit, and signaled the entry of Jews into the art world as painters, collectors, and dealers.