The concept of La Belle Juive—the beautiful Jewess—originated in medieval literature and visual art, evolving into a complex archetype that, by the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, became entangled with modern antisemitic tropes in European culture. These portrayals often depicted Jewish women as exotic, noble, and intelligent, yet simultaneously seductive, subversive, and threatening to Western norms. In this series, we will explore the lives of four extraordinary and creative women from this period, each with European connections, who challenged societal expectations and helped shape the modern era—whether Jewish, Jew-ish, or deeply intertwined with Jewish identity. Through their artistic output and personal experiences, we will examine how their lives serve as a lens to explore urgent political and cultural questions