Ben F. Stahl
Sotah #1 - Ben F. Stahl
Sotah #1 - Ben F. Stahl
Title: Sotah (Title Page)
Artist: Ben F. Stahl
Image size: 10 3/8” x 14 1/2” [26.4 x 36.8 cm]
Board size: 13 3/8” x 17 1/2” [34.0 x 44.5 cm]
Description: Acrylic on Bainbridge art board. Signed at bottom right. Unframed.
This is the original title page illustration for a story called Sotah by American-born Naomi Ragen. This abridged version appeared in a Reader’s Digest Condensed Book printed in 1993. The story revolves around the life of Dina Reich, the daughter of a rabbi. While living in Jerusalem, the young woman is falsely accused of adultery. Exiled to New York, Dina struggles to reclaim her life, which in the end she does..
Ben F. Stahl (b. 1932) was born in Chicago, Illinois. He is the eldest son of American illustrator Ben A. Stahl (1910-1987). Ben F. Stahl grew up with illustration, but never took a formal art training. Nevertheless, he is an excellent teacher. For various periods between 1955 and 1970, he taught at the Famous Artists Schools, Bridgeport University, and at the Ringling School of Art in Sarasota, Florida. Since the 1970s, Stahl has dedicated himself to his illustration career. He is particularly well known for his illustrations of young people. His art has been commissioned by most of the major publishers, including Houghton, Mifflin; Little, Brown; Putnam, Coward, McCann and Geoghegan; Random House; Scribner's; The Franklin Library; Limited Editions Book Club; Bantam Books; Reader's Digest; Warner Publishing; and Holt, Rinehart and Winston. Presently, he lives in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada.
Source: The Illustrator in American 1880-1980