Crisp, beautiful, BRAND NEW book. Dustjacket protected by brand new mylar cover.A look at the 19th century world of Galacian Jewish artist, Maurycy Gottlieb, by a preeminent scholar of modern Jewish history. Gottlieb is revered in Eastern Europe as a Polish artist and in Israel where, thanks to a major exhibition in Tel Aviv in 1991, he is considered the father of Jewish art. The author places Gottlieb's body of work in the context of contemporary European painting and uses it to shed light on the sociopoilitical and cultural complexity of the Austro-Hungarian Empire prior to WWI. He also explores key issues in modern Jewish history such as idenitity, assimilation, acculturation, nationalism and relations between Jews and non-Jews, especially Polish.Gottlieb's paintings range from portraits, including self-portraits, to "orientalist" themes, historical and literary subjects and biblical scenes, including two important representations of Jesus. 279 pages. Indexed. Illustrated in color at center of book. Standard size.