Unable to Work by David Olere

(A Holocaust Art Exhibit)

            This piece is titled Unable to Work by David Olere. Olere was born in Warsaw, Poland on January 19, 1902, where he was accepted into the Academy of Fine Arts at a young age. From March 1943 to January 1945 he was detained in Auschwitz as a Sonderkommando, a special labor unit responsible for emptying the remains from the crematory ovens as well as removing the bodies from the gas chambers. He also bore witness to the horrific testing performed by the Nazi’s and was forced to work as an illustrator and write letters for the SS. Olere was the first person to draw plans and cross-sections of the crematories. Since no photos were taken of the crematoria and gas chambers at Auschwitz, Olere’s work is considered to have “exceptional documentary value,” (Klarsfeld). His began creating his art after his release in 1945 out of a sense of obligation to those who did not survive. Olere felt it was important for everyone to understand the true horrors of the Holocaust. Unfortunately, due the graphic nature of his art, most people are repelled by it than attracted to it.

            In Unable to Work, Olere depicts a common scene at Auschwitz. The inability to work was an immediate death sentence and this painting depicts the walk of those considered useless. Overall, the colors are dark and muted. The sky contains orange and yellow, depicting light, but there is no suggestion of joy in it. The use of teal, gray, and black in the sky helps create the bleak atmosphere felt by the labors. In the background the smoke rising from the crematorium forms the SS insignia while laborers work at the camp, overseen by SS soldiers.

            The painting focuses on a Jewish family consisting of an elderly woman, a middle-aged woman holding an infant, and 3 children, 2 boys and 1 girl. These characters stand out against the background, drawing the eye of the viewer and creating depth to distinguish the distance of the family from the workers. The conditions in which they lived are evident in their faces, where their eyes and cheeks are sunken and their bone structure is rigid and sharp. They are all slightly stooped, the elderly woman probably from age but the others from malnutrition. Fatigue is evident in the overall limpness of their bodies and their open mouths add to image of suffering. Beneath their feet are the bones of those who walked this path before them. Floating above the family is the spirit of a malnourished, skeletal-like body with one hand wrapped around the elderly woman. The intimate way this ghostly figure holds the elderly woman suggests it may be a loved one offering comfort and protection in the last moment of their lives. Of course, this could also suggest the fate of this family.

            On the left side, barely in the painting, is the arm of an SS soldier. The sleeve of his coat is visible with the SS insignia and his gloved hand holds a rifle. He is guiding the family to their destiny, and possibly welcoming them to their destination. The smoke from the crematorium in the background suggests this family is headed to the gas chambers.

Works Cited

Klarsfeld, Serge David Olère: L'Oeil du Témoin/The Eyes of a Witness. New York: The Beate Klarsfeld Foundation, 1989. Web. April 21, 2011. <http://fcit.usf.edu/holocaust/ARTS/DOBIO/DOarts.HTM>

Brief History of the Holocaust

           The Holocaust is an event of great importance in world history. Though it is not the only known act of genocide, it is definitely the most known and studied. Ending in 1945, at the end of WWII, the Holocaust still stirs strong emotions in not only the survivors, but also in the generations following this event. Some turned these emotions into art, such as paintings, sketches and poetry, expressing everything from their daily life at various concentration camps to their deepest fears and most intimate emotions. Although it is generally understood what the Holocaust was, to fully understand the art spawned from this historic event one must have a deeper understanding of the event itself.

            The word holocaust stems from the Latin word holocaustum and the Greek word holokauston, meaning “burnt whole” (Holocaust). Dictionary.com defines it as “a great or complete devastation or destruction, especially by fire” and “any mass slaughter or reckless destruction of life” (Holocaust). The Holocaust was just that, the mass destruction of lives deemed unworthy by Adolf Hitler. Although it is most associated with the annihilation of the Jewish population other groups were affected as well. Hitler also targeted Gypsies, Slavics (including Poles and Russians), Jehovah’s Witnesses, homosexuals, people physically or mentally disabled, and anyone else who opposed the Nazi’s or had different political and ideological views.

            Hitler sought German domination over Europe and the world. There were many who supported him and much of this support came out of fear. Fear caused many to follow Hitler so it stands to reason it would have worked equally as well with the groups of people he persecuted. So the question then becomes, why persecute these groups of people? But more importantly, why focus on the Jews?

            The answers to these questions are simple enough. Hitler believed the Aryan race to be superior and was determined to create a “super race”. To accomplish this he had to get rid of all peoples who did not fit into his definition of superior beings, this included the poor, criminals, handicapped, and others who did not fit into the social norms and his idea of perfection. Though this type of thinking seems absurd now, during this time Darwin’s theory of biological inferiority was still highly regarded. Logic allows one to see that for Hitler to create his superior race he needed to rid the world of everyone he considered a sub-human. As for why he focused on the Jews, essentially it was because he held a deep and intense hatred for the Jewish population. But where did that hatred stem from?

            That question is more difficult to answer. It’s a well known fact that Hitler blamed the Jews for Germany losing World War I (WWI). Like many Germans, he believed Jewish bankers betrayed Germany and were responsible, at least in part, for the Treaty of Versailles, which removed large portions of land from German control, forced Germany to accept responsibility for the war, and required them to pay back retributions. He also believed the Jews were Communists and planned to destroy Germany (AnneFrank.com). Another thought ties into religion when the Jews persecuted Christ, forcing Pontius Pilate to crucify Him. Matthew 27:25 states, “All the people answered, “Let his blood be on us and our children!”” Hitler believed the annihilation of the Jews was the price they needed to pay for their persecution of Christ.

            Though this explains why Hitler targeted the Jews it doesn’t explain why he hated them so much. That is something that is still unknown. There are many theories, including one stating Hitler blamed a Jewish doctor for his mother’s death (she died of cancer), and another stating Hitler blamed Jews for his rejection at the Vienna Art Academy. These two theories have been debunked but more remain. The truth is that no one really knows why Hitler hated the Jews. All that is known is that his hatred goes as far back as his childhood.

             The Holocaust was a tragic event that almost led to the annihilation of an entire group of people. It serves as a reminder to what can happen when racism is left unchecked, especially in the hands of someone with political power. Although World War II (WWII) started in 1939, the Final Solution was not ordered until 1941, begging the question whether the destruction of these groups of people were the original intention of Hitler or not. Regardless, out of great tragedy came great art. Art that clearly depicts the lives and depth of suffering for those persecuted, offering a better understanding of not only the Holocaust itself but of the people who endured it.

 

Works Cited

Anne Frank Center: Frequently Asked Questions. 2008. Web. April 1, 2011.  

          <http://www.annefrank.com/who-is-anne-frank/faqs/>

“Holocaust.” Dictionary.com. 2011. Web. April 1, 2011 

           <http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/holocaust>

Holy Bible. New International Version. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1984. Print.