Remember, dear would-be illustrators, all this was drawn with imagination and a hand. No AI needed at all. Watch and learn how to use your brain! Thank you, mister Brodner!
My introduction to Mr. Szyk was his illustrations to Andersen’s fairy tales, published by Grosset & Dunlap. Beautiful and frightening. I still have the book.
These illustrations show the Hitler, as demented as he was, surrounded himself with others of his ilk. The same is as true today as it was then. History repeating itself.
Szyk's works are fascinating, compelling, "can't look away" engaging.
Especially in his capture of the inflections and nuances of body language: A slight turn of the head, a twist of the torso, the positioning of the arms--never straight, always animated.
Your recent series of drawings of "the victims" compels in the same manner but with different medium and more abstract presentation.
Truly stunning work! Now I have to look up who all the other characters are that I don’t recognize in these illustrations. Art education, teaching history.
"A self-described “soldier in art,” Szyk was a committed activist-artist, advocating for religious tolerance and racial equality for minorities, especially for Jews and black Americans."
"An artist, and especially a Jewish artist, cannot be neutral in these times. He cannot escape to still lifes, abstractions and experiments. Art that is purely cerebral is dead. 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."
" DO NỌT FORGIVE THEM OH LORD, FOR-THEY DO KNOW, WHAT THEY DO!.!
Szyk created the featured drawing3 during the last years of his life. This was a period when his attention had turned largely to contemporary American social themes, including the struggle against Jim Crow and racial segregation.4 Just like many of Szyk’s other works, this drawing's message is in its details. The torn and patched uniform belted around the Black soldier's emaciated body, the Purple Heart pinned to his right breast, and the rope that binds him and ties his hands behind his back all symbolize the injustice of his condition. Behind him are two men in the robes of the Ku Klux Klan who are presumably preparing a lynching.5 Two handwritten inscriptions—though they bear the editor's mark for "cut"—frame the image.6
This delicate drawing has fine details: the holly berries that form the back of the letter "B" have several pigments that could have only been created with a single-haired brush.
This film documents the introduction of the artist Arthur Szyk (b. 1894 Łódź, Poland - d. 1951 New Canaan, Connecticut, pronounced "Shick") to a group of students and teachers at the Mercer Island High School in Seattle, Washingon. Irvin Ungar, curator of the Arthur Szyk Society encourages the students to share their reaction to work that is as vivid, profound, and worthy of discussion today as it was over 60 years ago.
Remember, dear would-be illustrators, all this was drawn with imagination and a hand. No AI needed at all. Watch and learn how to use your brain! Thank you, mister Brodner!
"... all this was drawn with imagination and a hand. "
And with a commitment to human dignity and civil rights. A knowledge of history and current events. And often with a single-hair brush.
Thank you for the clarifications. Those always must be taken into account.
My introduction to Mr. Szyk was his illustrations to Andersen’s fairy tales, published by Grosset & Dunlap. Beautiful and frightening. I still have the book.
These illustrations show the Hitler, as demented as he was, surrounded himself with others of his ilk. The same is as true today as it was then. History repeating itself.
Thank you, Steve.
Great stuff, S.B.
Szyk's works are fascinating, compelling, "can't look away" engaging.
Especially in his capture of the inflections and nuances of body language: A slight turn of the head, a twist of the torso, the positioning of the arms--never straight, always animated.
Your recent series of drawings of "the victims" compels in the same manner but with different medium and more abstract presentation.
Nonetheless, equally powerful!
Best... /g
These are quite extraordinary!
Ooh, I love these--thanks for posting!!!!
Truly stunning work! Now I have to look up who all the other characters are that I don’t recognize in these illustrations. Art education, teaching history.
"A self-described “soldier in art,” Szyk was a committed activist-artist, advocating for religious tolerance and racial equality for minorities, especially for Jews and black Americans."
.https://www.szyk.com/about-szyk/early-years/.
"An artist, and especially a Jewish artist, cannot be neutral in these times. He cannot escape to still lifes, abstractions and experiments. Art that is purely cerebral is dead. 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
.https://www.hartman.org.il/artist-arthur-szyks-style-subjects-and-work-changed-after-holocaust/.
" DO NỌT FORGIVE THEM OH LORD, FOR-THEY DO KNOW, WHAT THEY DO!.!
Szyk created the featured drawing3 during the last years of his life. This was a period when his attention had turned largely to contemporary American social themes, including the struggle against Jim Crow and racial segregation.4 Just like many of Szyk’s other works, this drawing's message is in its details. The torn and patched uniform belted around the Black soldier's emaciated body, the Purple Heart pinned to his right breast, and the rope that binds him and ties his hands behind his back all symbolize the injustice of his condition. Behind him are two men in the robes of the Ku Klux Klan who are presumably preparing a lynching.5 Two handwritten inscriptions—though they bear the editor's mark for "cut"—frame the image.6
https://perspectives.ushmm.org/item/untitled-drawing-by-arthur-szyk
Online Exhibition - Arthur Szyk: Artist for Freedom | Exhibitions (Library of Congress)
.https://www.loc.gov/exhibits/szyk/szyk-ex.html.
Bill of rights
This delicate drawing has fine details: the holly berries that form the back of the letter "B" have several pigments that could have only been created with a single-haired brush.
.https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/99472755/.
Arthur Szyk: Soldier in Art
This film documents the introduction of the artist Arthur Szyk (b. 1894 Łódź, Poland - d. 1951 New Canaan, Connecticut, pronounced "Shick") to a group of students and teachers at the Mercer Island High School in Seattle, Washingon. Irvin Ungar, curator of the Arthur Szyk Society encourages the students to share their reaction to work that is as vivid, profound, and worthy of discussion today as it was over 60 years ago.
.https://youtu.be/2NF5vU0fkrE?si=AkKgbAzO6Dmvb1hf.
Art of Arthur Szyk
An illustrated lecture on the art of Arthur Szyk by Irvin Ungar.
.https://youtu.be/LUzRfI2jYwo?si=jo6yEU_9PKNCab94.
Incredible illustrations.Before computers! When pen and ink and sable brushes ruled! History and art repeat themselves.