Dec 21, 2021
In his new book Belonging and Betrayal: How Jews Made the Art World Modern, professor of history at Boston University and founding director of its Arvind and Chandan Nandlal Kilachand Honors College, Charles Dellheim, provides a new look into how, what were at the time, considered Jewish outsiders came into possession of artful masterpieces in the late 19th century/early 20th century and the fate of their art after being stolen by the Nazis during World War II. Charles recounts fascinating tales of how prominent art dealers and collectors relocated valuable art from Europe to the United States against all odds. Throughout the hour, Charles will also touch on other topics discussed in his book, such as the opening of European high culture, ambiguities of Jewish acculturation, the emergence of different schools of modern art, the cultural impact of World War I and the Nazi war against the Jews. Charles will take the audience on a deep look into what history reveals about Jews, art, and modernity.