Todros Geller was a significant presence in the Chicago Jewish community from the 1920s through until his untimely death in 1949. He is one of the best artists when it comes to the handling of Jewish themes. His art pushes past both positive and negative stereotypes. As I continue to research my planned posts on the American Hebraists I thought that I might present some graphic material of interest. Below are some of Geller's best known images. They were created for the 1928 book by Louis Wirth, "The Ghetto." Wirth was trying to explain to the larger community the concerns and folkways of the traditional Jewish community that continued to resist assimilation into the Chicago and American mainstream. Although Geller was politically radical and I suspect not particularly observant by that time his background gave him a very sympathetic understanding of his subject matter. There are a few short but worthwhile sources on Geller, but he is certainly not well enough known. Later posts will return to Geller and his work.
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