Along with a permanent collection, the Jewish Museum in Berlin has lots of special exhibits. Today I want to share a bit about one of them.
"Bedřich Fritta. Drawings from the Theresienstadt Ghetto" is an exhibit of the work of Bedřich Fritta from 1942 to 1944 while he was living in the Theresienstadt ghetto. The drawings are full of emotion and story and deep sadness.
They speak to me of bleakness. A life spent with suitcases and the ever present specter of death. Gaunt faces and big eyes that stare back at you. Haunting portraits of a terrible existence.
And yet, at the same time that Fritta was creating these drawings, he created colorful cartoon-like imagery for his young son. He told stories through art that seemed to normalize their existence in the ghetto — getting on the train was a "fun ride" to somewhere new. It very much reminded me of the film "Life is Beautiful." Fritta used art to give his son as normal a childhood as possible. His son survived the Holocaust. Fritta did not.
This post-it was left on the wall of one of the exhibitions.
I cried when I read it.
Thanks for stopping by.
I love the movie Life is Beautiful, I’ve heard it was based on a true story, perhaps on this artist? These drawings are amazing, if I ever make it to Germany I will definitely take the time to see this amazing museum after seeing your posts.
I love the movie Life is Beautiful, I’ve heard it was based on a true story, perhaps on this artist? These drawings are amazing, if I ever make it to Germany I will definitely take the time to see this amazing museum after seeing your posts.
I love the movie Life is Beautiful, I’ve heard it was based on a true story, perhaps on this artist? These drawings are amazing, if I ever make it to Germany I will definitely take the time to see this amazing museum after seeing your posts.
I love the movie Life is Beautiful, I’ve heard it was based on a true story, perhaps on this artist? These drawings are amazing, if I ever make it to Germany I will definitely take the time to see this amazing museum after seeing your posts.
I love the movie Life is Beautiful, I’ve heard it was based on a true story, perhaps on this artist? These drawings are amazing, if I ever make it to Germany I will definitely take the time to see this amazing museum after seeing your posts.
But ‘Life is Beautiful’ takes place in Italy…
But ‘Life is Beautiful’ takes place in Italy…
But ‘Life is Beautiful’ takes place in Italy…
But ‘Life is Beautiful’ takes place in Italy…
But ‘Life is Beautiful’ takes place in Italy…
Wow. Just wow. Thanks so much for sharing that.
Fondly, Tami
Wow. Just wow. Thanks so much for sharing that.
Fondly, Tami
Wow. Just wow. Thanks so much for sharing that.
Fondly, Tami
Wow. Just wow. Thanks so much for sharing that.
Fondly, Tami
Wow. Just wow. Thanks so much for sharing that.
Fondly, Tami
These are profound. I wonder if in these bleak ones he couldn’t bear to draw the children. No doubt they were all around. It makes me cry. I wonder if you have seen the movie Jakob the Liar. It’s that kind of story. But don’t watch it unless you want to cry for an hour at the end.
These are profound. I wonder if in these bleak ones he couldn’t bear to draw the children. No doubt they were all around. It makes me cry. I wonder if you have seen the movie Jakob the Liar. It’s that kind of story. But don’t watch it unless you want to cry for an hour at the end.
These are profound. I wonder if in these bleak ones he couldn’t bear to draw the children. No doubt they were all around. It makes me cry. I wonder if you have seen the movie Jakob the Liar. It’s that kind of story. But don’t watch it unless you want to cry for an hour at the end.
These are profound. I wonder if in these bleak ones he couldn’t bear to draw the children. No doubt they were all around. It makes me cry. I wonder if you have seen the movie Jakob the Liar. It’s that kind of story. But don’t watch it unless you want to cry for an hour at the end.
These are profound. I wonder if in these bleak ones he couldn’t bear to draw the children. No doubt they were all around. It makes me cry. I wonder if you have seen the movie Jakob the Liar. It’s that kind of story. But don’t watch it unless you want to cry for an hour at the end.
How powerful a simple drawing can be. I would love to see these…would need tissues though!
How powerful a simple drawing can be. I would love to see these…would need tissues though!
How powerful a simple drawing can be. I would love to see these…would need tissues though!
How powerful a simple drawing can be. I would love to see these…would need tissues though!
How powerful a simple drawing can be. I would love to see these…would need tissues though!
“Life is Beautiful” one of my favorite movies. It is so moving, what you have shared with us about this artist.
“Life is Beautiful” one of my favorite movies. It is so moving, what you have shared with us about this artist.
“Life is Beautiful” one of my favorite movies. It is so moving, what you have shared with us about this artist.
“Life is Beautiful” one of my favorite movies. It is so moving, what you have shared with us about this artist.
“Life is Beautiful” one of my favorite movies. It is so moving, what you have shared with us about this artist.
Solemn. Intense. We shall never forget.
Solemn. Intense. We shall never forget.
Solemn. Intense. We shall never forget.
Solemn. Intense. We shall never forget.
Solemn. Intense. We shall never forget.
Thank you, Julie, for sharing this. The artwork and the location of the museum touch my heart and my own family in so many ways. Shalom.
Thank you, Julie, for sharing this. The artwork and the location of the museum touch my heart and my own family in so many ways. Shalom.
Thank you, Julie, for sharing this. The artwork and the location of the museum touch my heart and my own family in so many ways. Shalom.
Thank you, Julie, for sharing this. The artwork and the location of the museum touch my heart and my own family in so many ways. Shalom.
Thank you, Julie, for sharing this. The artwork and the location of the museum touch my heart and my own family in so many ways. Shalom.
You are so brave!!! I do not think I could be as brave as you. Those drawings churn my gut and my heart and make me cry…
You are so brave!!! I do not think I could be as brave as you. Those drawings churn my gut and my heart and make me cry…
You are so brave!!! I do not think I could be as brave as you. Those drawings churn my gut and my heart and make me cry…
You are so brave!!! I do not think I could be as brave as you. Those drawings churn my gut and my heart and make me cry…
You are so brave!!! I do not think I could be as brave as you. Those drawings churn my gut and my heart and make me cry…
Thank you for sharing about this exhibit, Julie. The sketches and drawings are bleak and heart-wrenching. And, yet, that Fritta captured these souls on paper is a beautiful thing.
Thank you for sharing about this exhibit, Julie. The sketches and drawings are bleak and heart-wrenching. And, yet, that Fritta captured these souls on paper is a beautiful thing.
Thank you for sharing about this exhibit, Julie. The sketches and drawings are bleak and heart-wrenching. And, yet, that Fritta captured these souls on paper is a beautiful thing.
Thank you for sharing about this exhibit, Julie. The sketches and drawings are bleak and heart-wrenching. And, yet, that Fritta captured these souls on paper is a beautiful thing.
Thank you for sharing about this exhibit, Julie. The sketches and drawings are bleak and heart-wrenching. And, yet, that Fritta captured these souls on paper is a beautiful thing.
I cried too. We must never forget….
I cried too. We must never forget….
I cried too. We must never forget….
I cried too. We must never forget….
I cried too. We must never forget….
Thank you for sharing your experience. The photos made me cry but even more made me think. The power of a drawing…amazing
Thanks to both you and Nat
Thank you for sharing your experience. The photos made me cry but even more made me think. The power of a drawing…amazing
Thanks to both you and Nat
Thank you for sharing your experience. The photos made me cry but even more made me think. The power of a drawing…amazing
Thanks to both you and Nat
Thank you for sharing your experience. The photos made me cry but even more made me think. The power of a drawing…amazing
Thanks to both you and Nat
Thank you for sharing your experience. The photos made me cry but even more made me think. The power of a drawing…amazing
Thanks to both you and Nat
Thank you for taking the time to share this Julie. So powerful and moving. I cried when I read that note too.
Thank you for taking the time to share this Julie. So powerful and moving. I cried when I read that note too.
Thank you for taking the time to share this Julie. So powerful and moving. I cried when I read that note too.
Thank you for taking the time to share this Julie. So powerful and moving. I cried when I read that note too.
Thank you for taking the time to share this Julie. So powerful and moving. I cried when I read that note too.
Thanks for sharing. The pictures brought me to dead stop in my scrolling. I saw an exhibit of the holocaust years ago at the art museum at Wichita State University. I was going to class and all of us were brought to a stop by the life size figures spread out in the main lobby. We went upstairs to look down on the whole scene at once. I haven’t been that moved again until today. It brought tears to my eyes. The drawings are beautiful even though so sad.
Thanks for sharing. The pictures brought me to dead stop in my scrolling. I saw an exhibit of the holocaust years ago at the art museum at Wichita State University. I was going to class and all of us were brought to a stop by the life size figures spread out in the main lobby. We went upstairs to look down on the whole scene at once. I haven’t been that moved again until today. It brought tears to my eyes. The drawings are beautiful even though so sad.
Thanks for sharing. The pictures brought me to dead stop in my scrolling. I saw an exhibit of the holocaust years ago at the art museum at Wichita State University. I was going to class and all of us were brought to a stop by the life size figures spread out in the main lobby. We went upstairs to look down on the whole scene at once. I haven’t been that moved again until today. It brought tears to my eyes. The drawings are beautiful even though so sad.
Thanks for sharing. The pictures brought me to dead stop in my scrolling. I saw an exhibit of the holocaust years ago at the art museum at Wichita State University. I was going to class and all of us were brought to a stop by the life size figures spread out in the main lobby. We went upstairs to look down on the whole scene at once. I haven’t been that moved again until today. It brought tears to my eyes. The drawings are beautiful even though so sad.
Thanks for sharing. The pictures brought me to dead stop in my scrolling. I saw an exhibit of the holocaust years ago at the art museum at Wichita State University. I was going to class and all of us were brought to a stop by the life size figures spread out in the main lobby. We went upstairs to look down on the whole scene at once. I haven’t been that moved again until today. It brought tears to my eyes. The drawings are beautiful even though so sad.
Thank you so much for sharing this. It really hits home. My daughter and I have visited the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. and also a couple of camps in Germany, but not this museum. It is so very difficult and we, also, had to turn back quite a few times. Knowing friends of my parents that are survivors and also those that didn’t makes some things better and also worse. Just pray this never happens again.
Thank you so much for sharing this. It really hits home. My daughter and I have visited the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. and also a couple of camps in Germany, but not this museum. It is so very difficult and we, also, had to turn back quite a few times. Knowing friends of my parents that are survivors and also those that didn’t makes some things better and also worse. Just pray this never happens again.
Thank you so much for sharing this. It really hits home. My daughter and I have visited the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. and also a couple of camps in Germany, but not this museum. It is so very difficult and we, also, had to turn back quite a few times. Knowing friends of my parents that are survivors and also those that didn’t makes some things better and also worse. Just pray this never happens again.
Thank you so much for sharing this. It really hits home. My daughter and I have visited the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. and also a couple of camps in Germany, but not this museum. It is so very difficult and we, also, had to turn back quite a few times. Knowing friends of my parents that are survivors and also those that didn’t makes some things better and also worse. Just pray this never happens again.
Thank you so much for sharing this. It really hits home. My daughter and I have visited the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. and also a couple of camps in Germany, but not this museum. It is so very difficult and we, also, had to turn back quite a few times. Knowing friends of my parents that are survivors and also those that didn’t makes some things better and also worse. Just pray this never happens again.
Thanks for sharing your museum photos with us the past two days. I cried for that face exhibit just looking at your photos. I can’t even imagine what it must have been like to be there.
Thanks for sharing your museum photos with us the past two days. I cried for that face exhibit just looking at your photos. I can’t even imagine what it must have been like to be there.
Thanks for sharing your museum photos with us the past two days. I cried for that face exhibit just looking at your photos. I can’t even imagine what it must have been like to be there.
Thanks for sharing your museum photos with us the past two days. I cried for that face exhibit just looking at your photos. I can’t even imagine what it must have been like to be there.
Thanks for sharing your museum photos with us the past two days. I cried for that face exhibit just looking at your photos. I can’t even imagine what it must have been like to be there.
We must never forget.. Thank you for sharing these Julie
We must never forget.. Thank you for sharing these Julie
We must never forget.. Thank you for sharing these Julie
We must never forget.. Thank you for sharing these Julie
We must never forget.. Thank you for sharing these Julie