ARTHUR SZYK 1894-1951
(Polish/American).
Arthur Szyk (1894 – 1951) was a distinguished Polish-Jewish artist celebrated for his contributions as a book illustrator and political artist. Throughout his career, he resided and created his works primarily in France, Poland, and the United Kingdom, and later settled permanently in the United States in 1940, obtaining American citizenship in 1948. Renowned even in the interwar period, Szyk's art gained international recognition, with exhibitions and publications spanning Poland, France, the United Kingdom, Israel, and the United States. Particularly notable were his incisive political caricatures during World War II, where he fiercely criticized the policies and figures of the Axis powers. Post-war, Szyk continued his advocacy, notably supporting the establishing the state of Israel. Szyk's artistic style is characterized by a profound social and political engagement, rejecting modernism in favor of medieval and Renaissance traditions, notably illuminated manuscripts. Unlike typical caricaturists, Szyk's attention to detail and coloristic effects in his works was unparalleled.
Introduction to Arthur Szyk's Lithographs.
Arthur Szyk, a celebrated artist and miniaturist, was commissioned by Canadian entrepreneur and stamp connoisseur Kasimir Bileski to create illustrations for the Visual History of Nations (or United Nations) series of stamps. While the project ultimately never came to fruition, Szyk did design stamp album frontispieces, serving as both decorative elements and introductions to stamp collections. Now presented in this auction as ten individual lots, these lithographs comprise the complete collection of Arthur Szyk's work for the series. They include representations of the United States, China, France, Great Britain, Israel, Poland, Switzerland, the U.S.S.R., Canada, and The Story of Flight.Szyk's untimely death prevented the completion of this ambitious project, leaving only ten reproductions from a planned series depicting the histories of 61 nations. These prints were not published until nearly 40 years after Szyk's passing, showcasing his enduring impact and legacy of his artistic vision.