Ahasuerus
Maurycy Gottlieb · 1876
Why it's great
A close portrait of a weary, noble-looking man with a faraway gaze: the legendary Wandering Jew, a man condemned to roam forever. Maurycy Gottlieb painted Ahasuerus with dignity instead of horror, giving a sad folk legend a feeling of grandeur. It shows how Jewish artists reworked old stories. It's a powerful, quiet portrait.
Where to see it
📍 National Museum in KrakówKraków, Poland
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Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:
These links open search results on each shop's own website; we don't sell anything or earn a commission, and print quality varies by seller. Ask a grown-up before you buy anything.
Maurycy Gottlieb was born in Drohobych, in Galicia, to a Jewish family and studied art in Kraków, Vienna and Munich. He was a student of the great painter Jan Matejko and painted striking pictures of Jewish life and history. He died in Kraków in 1879 at only 22. His few works are treasured today.
