Born into a middle-class Polish Jewish family in 1894, Arthur Szyk lived a life framed by two world wars, the rise of totalitarianism in Europe, and the birth of the State of Israel, before his death in 1951. His work as an artist and illustrator centered around these profound events. Now, thanks to a $10.1 million gift from Taube Philanthropies to The Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life, the voluminous Szyk collection will be available to students, scholars, and the public for the first time.
David and Saul, 1921
The largest single contribution to acquire art in Berkeley’s history, the gift is certain to inspire renewed interest in Szyk’s work.
Renamed the Taube Family Arthur Szyk Collection, the artworks pair intricate craftsmanship recalling medieval and Renaissance traditions with insightful commentary on Judaism, World War II, the Holocaust, and other subjects.
Szyk lived and worked in Poland, France, the United Kingdom, and Canada before moving to New York in 1940, where he met the parents of Tad Taube.
“Arthur Szyk’s unique contributions to contemporary art and political illustration have not yet been recognized to the extent his work deserves,” says Taube, chairman of Taube Philanthropies.
“It is significant to me to ensure that his remarkable works are available to today’s and future generations.”
The collection — which includes 450 artworks, plus diaries, publications, and other documentary materials — is catching attention elsewhere: A selection of artworks will be loaned to the New York Historical Society for an upcoming exhibition.
