Le Livre D'Esther [The Book of Esther]

AUCTION 37 | Tuesday, June 26th, 2007 at 1:00

Fine Judaica: Printed Books, Manuscripts, Autograph Letters, Graphic & Ceremonial Art

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Lot 191

SZYK, ARTHUR.

Le Livre D'Esther [The Book of Esther]

One of only 30 copies in this state. Exquisite color plates, calligraphy and many historiated initials and head- and tail-pieces by Szyk. Text in Hebrew and French Original three-quarter morocco over marbled boards, spine gilt with morocco inlays. Original printed wrappers within. 4to

Paris: H. Piazza (1926)

Est: $1,200 - $1,800

Arthur Szyk's vibrant illustrations depict the story of Purim in an Assyrian context, consistant with contemporary Parisan art forms which had been inspired by the "exotica of Persia, the Near East and Russia." See I. Ungar, Justice Illuminated: The Art of Arthur Szyk (1998) p.74. J. P. Ansell notes that as with so many of Szyk's works, Le Livre D'Esther is a "political statement on anti-Semitism: In the story, the beautiful Queen Esther saves her co-religionists from persecution by a government official; for Szyk and his contemporaries, the story was an allegorical commentary on the state of relgious freedom in Poland." See J.P. Ansell, Arthur Szyk: Artist, Jew, Pole (2004) pp. 33-37.