Norman Raeben (1901-1978). The Wandering Painting

This volume represents the first comprehensive retrospective catalog of the works of Norman Raeben, a Ukrainian-American Jewish artist and educator, renowned as the son of Sholem Aleichem and as a mentor to influential figures such as Stella Adler and Bob Dylan. It serves as a scholarly companion to the inaugural retrospective exhibition, "Norman Raeben (1901–1978): The Wandering Painting", hosted at the Jewish Museum of Venice from November 24, 2024, to January 14, 2025. The catalog brings together a diverse array of essays authored by distinguished art historians, practicing artists, literary scholars, theater and music experts, as well as authorities in Jewish and Yiddish culture and conservation. These contributions provide an interdisciplinary analysis of Raeben’s oeuvre and his profound cultural influence, situating his artistic legacy within the broader trajectories of 20th-century American and European art and cultural history. Moreover, the catalog is a result of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie research project POYESIS (Perspectives on Yiddish Cultural Evolution and Its Legacy: Visual Arts, Theatre, and Songwriting Between Assimilation and Identity. A Case Study). This research initiative employs Raeben’s body of work as a pivotal case study to investigate the transformation and adaptation of Ukrainian Yiddish culture in mid-20th-century New York, offering valuable insights into the interplay between artistic identity, cultural heritage, and assimilation.