Jewish Art, Jewish Artists
摘要
A vast body of icons, signs, emblems, personifications, paintings, sculptures, architecture, and ornamental crafts is staring at us, the product and witness of thousands of years of Jewish history—a staggering treasure trove created despite the powerful taboo of the Second Commandment. This contradiction leaves us with many questions. How did it even happen? How did the artists overcome the terror of the taboo? Was the art original or taken from other cultures? Who were the creators, as diverse as a young man who followed God’s architectural blueprints to painters of forbidden portraits? At the end of the day, the most significant questions are: What is Jewish art? Who is the Jewish artist? Did Jewish art follow and witness history?