Studies of camp inmates reading by a Polish Jewish inmate

Identifier
irn522031
Language of Description
English
Alt. Identifiers
  • 2003.462.22
Dates
1 Jan 1941 - 31 Dec 1941
Level of Description
Item
Languages
  • French
Source
EHRI Partner

Extent and Medium

overall: Height: 8.250 inches (20.955 cm) | Width: 7.125 inches (18.098 cm)

Creator(s)

Biographical History

Fiszel Zylberberg-Zber was a Jewish artist born in Plock, Poland, on June 23, 1909. By the 1930s, he was living in France and established as an artist, especially known for his woodcuts. In May 1940, Nazi Germany invaded France. An armistice was signed in June. Germany occupief the northern and western regions. In 1941, the German began arresting and interning foreign born Jews. Zber was detained around this time. He was sent to Beaune-la-Rolande internment camp. In 1942, the German began deporting the inmates to concentration camps in the east. Zber was deported on Convoy 6 to Auschwitz concentration camp in German occupied Poland where he was killed on October 26, 1942, at the age of 33.

Archival History

The drawing was acquired by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2003.

Acquisition

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection

Funding Note: The cataloging of this artifact has been supported by a grant from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany.

Scope and Content

Sketches of inmates reading drawn by Fiszel Zber at Beaune-Le-Rolande internment camp in France where he was imprisoned from 1941-1942. Nazi Germany invaded France in May 1940. After the June armistice, the Germans occupied the north and western regions. In 1941, the Germans began rounding up Jewish residents who were not born in France. Zber, an artist specializing in woodcuts, was born in Poland. He was arrested as a foreign born Jew in 1941 and interned in Beaune-le-Rolande. While there, he drew scenes of the camp and the daily activities of the inmates. In 1942, the Germans began to deport foreign born Jews to concentration camps in the east. Zber was deported to Auschwitz where he was killed, age 33, on Oct. 26, 1942.

Conditions Governing Access

No restrictions on access

Conditions Governing Reproduction

No restrictions on use

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Three sketches in pencil on paper of men reading in various positions. At the top is a framed scene of 2 men sitting on either side of a table with a book in front. They are shown from the waist up, leaning down resting their elbows on the table. Another man leans against a bunk in the background, his arm resting on the rail. To the right sits a faceless figure, facing the viewer with his elbow on his knee and chin resting on his palm. At the bottom is a man lying on a bunk reading a newspaper. His crossed feet are pointed towards the viewer and his right arm is under his head. It is signed and dated at the bottom.

Subjects

Genre

This description is derived directly from structured data provided to EHRI by a partner institution. This collection holding institution considers this description as an accurate reflection of the archival holdings to which it refers at the moment of data transfer.