The Pennsylvania State University Press
ISBN: 9780271099187
Histories of medieval art usually focus on works made by and for Christians. This book instead explores art created by and for Jewish communities, revealing new perspectives on how people understood and experienced the medieval world.
Excerpt:
This book is meant for all those who seek to engage intellectually with art made for Jews in premodern times. This admittedly diverse group includes lay readers who want to understand what premodern art made for Jews is attempting to express, and how and why it differs from the contemporary art made for non-Jews that it so resembles. But it also may be useful for art historians who don’t regularly consider art made for Jews; medieval historians who desire to expand their portfolio of sources for the study of the period; and Jewish studies scholars who don’t normally consider visual culture, who seek to supplement their methodological toolbox. My aim is to stimulate conversation among intelligent lovers and observers of art.
Who is this book for?
Focusing largely on illuminated manuscripts, this book explores a range of themes and questions surrounding how Jewish art can be read. With an occasionally personal approach, the author examines how women are depicted, or why they are sometimes absent, the emotions conveyed by human figures, and what might be considered monstrous. Although it is not a straightforward read, the book encourages readers to look closely and uncover deeper meanings within these works of art.
For readers interested in medieval Jewish studies or medieval art, this book offers a compelling and thought-provoking exploration of its subject. However, those new to either field may find parts of it challenging.
“Epstein’s approach is resolutely interdisciplinary. He draws on Jewish studies, art history, theology, codicology, and cultural history, as well as analogies from popular culture. This style extends to the prose, which blends close visual analysis with personal anecdotes, digressions, and moments of memoir. For some readers, this intimacy will enhance accessibility, collapsing the gap between scholar and subject; others may find it distracts from sustained theoretical engagement. The balance between narrative digression and focused argument is not always even, and the density of illustration placement can interrupt textual flow. Yet the over-all effect is of a generous teacher guiding readers through a complex visual and cultural landscape. People of the Image speaks not only to scholars of Jewish art, but to broader debates in medieval art history, religious studies, and visual culture.” ~ review by Sara Offenberg in The Art Bulletin
The Author
Marc Michael Epstein is Professor of Religion and Visual Culture at Vasser College. He has extensively researched illuminated manuscripts, especially medieval copies of Haggadah.
People of the Image: Jews and Art
By Marc Michael Epstein
The Pennsylvania State University Press
ISBN: 9780271099187
Histories of medieval art usually focus on works made by and for Christians. This book instead explores art created by and for Jewish communities, revealing new perspectives on how people understood and experienced the medieval world.
Excerpt:
This book is meant for all those who seek to engage intellectually with art made for Jews in premodern times. This admittedly diverse group includes lay readers who want to understand what premodern art made for Jews is attempting to express, and how and why it differs from the contemporary art made for non-Jews that it so resembles. But it also may be useful for art historians who don’t regularly consider art made for Jews; medieval historians who desire to expand their portfolio of sources for the study of the period; and Jewish studies scholars who don’t normally consider visual culture, who seek to supplement their methodological toolbox. My aim is to stimulate conversation among intelligent lovers and observers of art.
Who is this book for?
Focusing largely on illuminated manuscripts, this book explores a range of themes and questions surrounding how Jewish art can be read. With an occasionally personal approach, the author examines how women are depicted, or why they are sometimes absent, the emotions conveyed by human figures, and what might be considered monstrous. Although it is not a straightforward read, the book encourages readers to look closely and uncover deeper meanings within these works of art.
For readers interested in medieval Jewish studies or medieval art, this book offers a compelling and thought-provoking exploration of its subject. However, those new to either field may find parts of it challenging.
“Epstein’s approach is resolutely interdisciplinary. He draws on Jewish studies, art history, theology, codicology, and cultural history, as well as analogies from popular culture. This style extends to the prose, which blends close visual analysis with personal anecdotes, digressions, and moments of memoir. For some readers, this intimacy will enhance accessibility, collapsing the gap between scholar and subject; others may find it distracts from sustained theoretical engagement. The balance between narrative digression and focused argument is not always even, and the density of illustration placement can interrupt textual flow. Yet the over-all effect is of a generous teacher guiding readers through a complex visual and cultural landscape. People of the Image speaks not only to scholars of Jewish art, but to broader debates in medieval art history, religious studies, and visual culture.” ~ review by Sara Offenberg in The Art Bulletin
The Author
Marc Michael Epstein is Professor of Religion and Visual Culture at Vasser College. He has extensively researched illuminated manuscripts, especially medieval copies of Haggadah.
You can learn more about this book from the publisher’s website.
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