SAN DIEGO (Press Release) — On Wednesday, January 18, from 7-8 p.m., the Congregation Beth Israel Men’s Club Speaker Forum presents, “Antisemitism in Visual Art Since the Middle Ages,” a lecture by Claudia Hercman.
Hercman was born and raised in Buenos Aires, within the Argentinian Jewish community. She is a tour guide and translator. She is also a sculptor and painter, whose main subjects are Memory and Uprooting, in honor of her four grandparents who emigrated from Poland to Argentina in the 1930s. She has been conducting city, art, and Jewish tours for the last 20 years, most recently figuring out how to offer virtual Jewish tours to people all over the world during the pandemic. She loves talking to people, meeting new friends, and helping them explore the history of Jews in Argentina.
In general, when we talk about antisemitism, people think about the Nazis, the Holocaust, or contemporary antisemitism. The aim of this presentation is to show that antijudaism has been expressed in visual art since the early Middle Ages. This, and other types of discrimination have been encouraged by political and religious powers and these actions paved the way to persecution and genocide.
Jews have been depicted as monsters, subhumans, animals, or demons. Medieval depictions of monsters were not designed simply to scare viewers: They had many purposes and provoked many reactions. They enforced prejudices and social hierarchies.
In this lecture, we will see paintings, sculptures, reliefs, and gargoyles that are clear evidence of this. These images were the political cartoons and posters of the age. And most remain visible if you know where to look.
Register here.
This presentation is co-sponsored by Men’s Club & Social Action Committee. Made possible by the Haubenstock-Nevarez Fund to Combat Antisemitism.
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Preceding provided by Congregation Beth Israel