Alongside artists such as Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko, Richard Pousette-Dart (1916–1992) was one of the most important pioneers of Abstract Expressionism. Sixty outstanding works from all creative phases allow us to immerse ourselves in the colourful and multifaceted oeuvre of this remarkable artist.

The American avant-garde movement of Abstract Expressionism radically changed the course of modern painting. Like many of his fellow artists, Pousette-Dart was intensely preoccupied with themes such as myth, spirituality, and the archaic. His light-flooded works often evoke ideas of transcendental force through motifs reminiscent of the firmament or the charged energy of celestial bodies. This opulent volume impressively presents Pousette-Dart’s art as a poetry of light.

In honor of eminent archaeologist and historian of ancient Jewish art, Rachel Hachlili, friends and colleagues offer contributions in this festschrift which span the world of ancient Judaism both in Palestine and the Diaspora. Hachlili's distinctive research interests: synagogues, burial sites, and Jewish iconography receive particular attention in the volume. Archaeologists and historians present new material evidence from Galilee, Jerusalem, and Transjordan, contributing to the honoree's fields of scholarly study. Fresh analyses of ancient Jewish art, essays on architecture, historical geography, and research history complete the volume and make it an enticing kaleidoscope of the vibrant field of scholarship that owes so much to Rachel.