Book & Author: The House of Fragile Things: Jewish Art Collectors and the Fall of France
Thursday, November 18, 6:30 pm (CST)
A fresh account of the great Jewish families of France and their art collections, author James McAuley’s latest book, The House of Fragile Things: Jewish Art Collectors and the Fall of France, is ambitious and meticulously researched. The book shares years of McAuley’s research on the lives and collections of prominent 19th century Jewish families leading up to World War II, challenging the psychology of collecting within the context of the war.
Join us for an in-depth conversation and presentation with McAuley, who will discuss antisemitism in the 19th and 20th centuries in the art world, the French-Jewish experience, the rise of a social class where trade (rather than land) determined wealth, and the history of consumerism.
Community Partners: Jewish Arts Collaborative; Department of History of Art and Architecture at DePaul University; Art and Art History Department at Lake Forest College; Crown Family Center for Jewish and Israel Studies at Northwestern University; Art and Art History department of Columbia College Chicago; Lycée Français de Chicago
Reservations are required. Members must sign in to take advantage of their member discount.