Image from Life? Or Theatre? by Charlotte Salomon, c.1940-42. Collection Jewish Museum, Amsterdam. © Charlotte Salomon Foundation.

The Leatherby Libraries, in collaboration with the Sala and Aron Samueli Holocaust Memorial Library and the Rodgers Center for Holocaust Education, created a display to highlight German-Jewish artist Charlotte Salomon.

With the Holocaust progressing and belonging to a family with a long history of suicide, Charlotte expressed her grief, fear, and love through paintings and writing.

As the Holocaust continued, Charlotte felt it was essential to give her art to someone she trusted. The person chose to hold onto Charlotte’s artwork was Dr. George Moridis. Charlotte Salomon died on October 10th, 1943, while five months pregnant upon arrival at Auschwitz. However, her art lives on. Her father and stepmother survived the Holocaust, and after obtaining her art from Dr. Moridis, they hosted the first showing in 1961. In 1971, they donated her life’s work to the Jewish Historical Museum of Amsterdam.

This display honors the legacy and the life of Charlotte Salomon through books, art, and famous inspirational quotes from Salomon’s writings as well as her own book Life? Or Theatre? There is also a collection of educational materials and paintings about the Holocaust, including pieces from the Annual Holocaust Art & Writing Contest.

The Rodgers Center for Holocaust Education hosted various events during the Fall 2022 semester in honor of the life and art of Charlotte Salomon.

This display will be up through the Fall 2022 semester.