Time for a pause-and-refresh during this busy, busy season.  Here are some eye-treats from contemporary artist books of “The Song of Songs”–that lyrical book of wisdom in the Bible that centers on love, ecstasy, and joy.  These are now on display downstairs in the Yale Art Library.

Zeev Raban, 1923, Art Nouveau style

Look at the beauty of the script and border illustrations…

…and the elegance of this script.  It looks Arabic and comes from Jerusalem.

Typeface: Yits’hak Pludwinski, 1999-2001

“He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.”

Ronald King, 1968

The bold, inky lines.

Hanns H. Heidenheim

A linear style that adds up to a powerful woman.

Mordechai Beck, 1999-2001

…and here, too.

Tamar Messer, 2006

Simple, pleasing lines that are nonetheless fresh.

Angelo Valenti, 1935

Contemporary, sweet.

Rita Galle, 1990

A more graphic approach.

Inspired by Goethe’s color theory with “The Song of Songs” text in German.

Robert Schwarz, 2012

Your moment of joy and love.