The Ukranian-born Jewish immigrant Peter Krasnow (1886–1979) spent his decorated career in Glendale, Los Angeles, but the soul of his work was rooted in his Ashkenazi experience. Deeply influenced by early modernism, Krasnow utilized his Jewish heritage and education to interweave ancient religious themes and Hebrew calligraphy with vibrant colors and a uniquely American sensibility. The exhibition “Peter Krasnow: Breathing Joy and Light” focuses on his postwar celebration of Jewish survival and triumph in the wake of the Holocaust. Infused with the natural buoyancy of his West Coast surroundings and the Allied victory, Krasnow reignites Jewish joy through his whimsically optimistic declaration of endurance. “When tragedy was at the deepest point,” he said, “my paintings breathed joy and light—color structures instead of battle scenes, symmetry to repair broken worlds. A means of protest to ease the pain.” —Lucy Horowitz