Song of Songs
The biblical Song of Songs, or Songs of Solomon, has inspired poets, writers, and artists through the ages. This edition of the sacred text is illustrated by Ze’ev Raban (1890–1970), one of the leading Jewish artists in the early twentieth century and perhaps the foremost representative of the Bezalel style of art, which took its name from the first art academy in the Land of Israel. This institution, which remains an important influence in contemporary Israel, was founded in Jerusalem in 1906 by Boris Schatz and became known for a distinctive style melding Art Nouveau with motifs from ancient Near Eastern art and archaeology. Ze’ev Raban went on to create a significant opus of paintings and decorative elements in a variety of styles, but his Song of Songs remains beyond question one of his best-known and beloved works.
The biblical <em>Song of Songs</em>, or <em>Songs of Solomon</em>, has inspired poets, writers, and artists through the ages. This edition of the sacred text is illustrated by Ze’ev Raban (1890–1970), one of the leading Jewish artists in the early twentieth century and perhaps the foremost representative of the Bezalel style of art, which took its name from the first art academy in the Land of Israel. This institution, which remains an important influence in contemporary Israel, was founded in Jerusalem in 1906 by Boris Schatz and became known for a distinctive style melding Art Nouveau with motifs from ancient Near Eastern art and archaeology. Ze’ev Raban went on to create a significant opus of paintings and decorative elements in a variety of styles, but his <em>Song of Songs</em> remains beyond question one of his best-known and beloved works.