Behold the Man Jesus in Israeli Art

Amitai Mendelsohn

This publication was written to accompany a major exhibition at the Israel Museum that investigates the various appearances of the figure of Jesus in Jewish and Israeli art, revealing a significant, multifaceted, and surprisingly pervasive phenomenon. Surveying works made by prominent artists from different generations, from the second half of the nineteenth century up until today, the richly illustrated text analyzes the evolving attitude of Jewish, Zionist, and Israeli art towards the portrayal of Jesus. This book takes a closer look at artists laboring “in the shadow of the Cross,” who saw Jesus as an emblem of the persecuted Jew, as well as artists who saw Jesus as a symbol of the rebirth of the Jewish people in the land of Israel. Also focusing on those who view him as a symbol of the suffering artist and are indifferent to the rocky political relationship between Christianity and Judaism, this clear and straightforward volume is a spectacular addition to every library, and will make a perfect gift for historians, art enthusiasts, and any person who has a thirst for knowledge