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Elisabeth Mann, wartime art, 1944 -- 1949, 1944-1955

By staff

Collection Overview

Title: Elisabeth Mann, wartime art, 1944 -- 1949, 1944-1955

Predominant Dates:1945 -- 1951

ID: RG-22/RG-22

Creator: Elisabeth Mann, former prisoner of German concentration camps (1940s -- 1950s)

Extent: 8.0 Items

Languages: German [ger], Swedish [swe]

Abstract

Elisabeth Mann, collection of postwar portrayal sketches created in Sweden, in 1949.

Elisabeth Mann depicts scenes rendered by her reflective memory recorded in Auschwitz concentration camp and Braunschweig concentration camps.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Collection of sketches, pencil on paper, by Elisabeth Mann, the former prisoner and survivor of several German concentration camps. She depicts fellow prisoners, older people and children, at a camp.

Although in sketches, her reflections are not schematic and generic. They emanate the essence of day-to-day existential situation in incarceration.

There are seven reflective sketches (pencil on paper) and portrait in oil (oil on paper)

ELISABETH MANN (ERSZEBET MOHR): FLICKERING REFLECTIONS OF ART, 1945

We present here six sketches of Elisabeth Mann, created in Sweden in 1945.

Elisabeth Mann a former prisoner of German concentration camps and survivor of the Shoah settled in Sweden after the war. Although free and safe, her mind remained overwhelmed with angst and distressing memories of wartime. It was time when loss of loved ones and unexpected witnessing of killings as ordinary process became a mundane flow of life under death.

In postwar Sweden she remained entangled with existential realities of the war.  She portrayed the images of the past, so intrinsic to her despondent inner world. Perhaps it was her redemption for the regaining the meaning of her own life.

Elisabeth Mann was born Erszebet Mohr in Hungary in 1925.  For the Mohr Family’ a relative stability and predictability of prewar life ultimately expired in March -- April 1944. Followed by extreme geo-political changes in Europe in general and in Hungary in particular, the new pro-Nazi Hungarian government commenced a full scale ghettoization and deportation of the Jews from Hungary and Hungarian-controlled territories. Between 400,000 and 500,000 Jews were ghettoized and deported in the course of April – June 1944. The majority of collectively referred Hungarian Jewry ended up in Auschwitz – Birkenau.

Since then Elisabeth Mann saw the life flickering before her eyes as a series of uncontrolled borderline situations: deportation to Auschwitz, then transfer to Bergen Belsen Concentration camp, then again transfer to Braunschweig concentration camp for women. She survived them all.

Owing to the efforts of International Red Cross she and a group of other female prisoners of the Braunschweig camp were released to Denmark.  It was in the beginning of May 1945. In a psychological sense, it was a new status, marked by deliberation from her being an object of persecutions to her becoming a subject of her own.

In the autumn of 1945, she was admitted as a refugee to Sweden. She lived in small, rural communities.  Those were Oster Korsebrga, Sjoberga. Later, Elisabeth found employment at a local school. Formally free, she remained a captive of her daunting memories. Elisabeth Mann found self- realization in teaching. It was partially a reckoning. She coped with her past by sketching scenes reflecting her wartime experience.

In 1945 – 1949, she created a series of sketches related to mundane life in Auschwitz and Braunschweig concentration camps. She also depicted a Swedish landscapes.

Elisabeth Mann lived in Sweden until 1955 and then she and her husband immigrated to the United States.

American mode of life has not erased her wearisome memories. Elisabeth is not seeking disentangling from her deeply disturbing Past.  This selection of her sketches does attest to the continuity of the Past and its inerasable marks.

Biographical Note

Elizabeth Mann was born in Hungary in 1925.  She grew up in a house filled with music; her father played the violin, her mother sang, and each of the four children played an instrument.  In 1941, however, her older brother was drafted into the army and sent to France, beginning the separation of her family.  A few years later, her sister was taken by SS officers and disappeared.

In April 1944, Elisabeth and her family were forced to move into the ghetto.  Not long after, the family was deported.  They took only what they could carry to the railroad station and were loaded into cattle cars.  After a hellish five day journey, they arrived at Auschwitz-Birkenau.  The family tried to stay together, but the men were ordered into one line and the women and children were ordered into another.  Elisabeth’s younger brother, Laci, had just turned 13 and by Jewish law was now a man.  He asked Elisabeth which line he ought to join.  Because he was very ill, Elisabeth told him to stay with their mother, not knowing that this decision would send him directly to the gas chamber with their parents.

Elisabeth got strength and hope through memories of home and her nine “camp sisters,” who would literally support each other during roll calls.  She also managed to meet briefly with her sister who had disappeared while in Auschwitz.  In October 1944, she was sent to Bergen-Belsen before being sent on a death march.  She was liberated in Denmark on May 2, 1945.

            She spent several years in Sweden, where she met her husband, before immigrating to the US in 1955.  They are the proud parents of two daughters and a son.  In time, Elisabeth learned that the rest of her family had died, but she never lost touch with her camp sisters.  They saved her life and became her family.  Today she encourages everyone to believe in love and hope, saying, “Human beings cannot give up hope.  As long as you have your life, and hope, you can do anything.”

Box and Folder Listing

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 1: RG-22.01, Portrait of a woman, 1945Add to your cart.View associated digital content.
Erszebet Mohr (Elisabeth Mann), portrait of a Hungarian-Jewish woman at a concentration camps, 1945 -- 1949
Subject/Index Terms:
Elisabeth Mann, sketches portraying prisoners of German concentration camps, 1945 -- 1949
Elisabeth Mann, postwar pictorial reflections
Elisabeth Mann, portrait of a woman, sketch, pencil on paper
Erszebet Mohr (Elisabeth Mann), former prisoner of German concentration camps, survivor
Postwar personal reflections on the Holocaust
Postwar personal reflections on the Holocaust, Elisabeth Mann
Concentration camps, German
Existential perception of the Holocaust
Existential perception of the Holocaust, Elisabeth Mann
Elisabeth Mann, existential perception of day-to-day life in German concentration camps
Prisoners of German concentration camps, pictorial depiction
Prisoners of German concentration camps, pictorial depiction, Elisabeth Mann
Hungarian experience in the Holocaust
Sweden (1945 -- present)
Erszebet Mohr (Elisabeth Mann), existential depiction, postwar
Creators:
Elisabeth Mann, former prisoner of German concentration camps (1940s -- 1950s)
Document/Artifact of Item-Level 3: RG-22.03,  Prisoners at Auschwitz, ca 1945Add to your cart.View associated digital content.
Elisabeth Mann, Prisoners at Auschwitz, ca 1945
Subject/Index Terms:
Elisabeth Mann, postwar pictorial reflections
Elisabeth Mann, wartime and postwar experience
Existential perception of the Holocaust
Existential perception of the Holocaust, Elisabeth Mann
Concentration camps, German
Pictorial depiction of day-to-day life in German concentration camps
Prisoners of German concentration camps, pictorial depiction
Prisoners of German concentration camps, pictorial depiction, Elisabeth Mann
Auschwitz-Birkenau (Poland: Concentration Camp)
Auschwitz Birkenau (Poland: Concentration camp), prisoners, pictorial depiction
Auschwitz Birkenau (Poland: Concentration camp), prisoners, pictorial depiction, Elisabeth Mann
Elisabeth Mann, Forced labor at Auschwitz Birkenau
Sweden (1945 -- present)
Erszebet Mohr (Elisabeth Mann), existential depiction, postwar
Creators:
Elisabeth Mann, former prisoner of German concentration camps (1940s -- 1950s)
Document/Artifact of Item-Level 4: RG-22.04, Forced labor at Auschwitz Birkenau, ca 1944Add to your cart.View associated digital content.
Elisabeth Mann,  Forced labor at Auschwitz Birkenau, ca 1944
Subject/Index Terms:
Elisabeth Mann, postwar pictorial reflections
Elisabeth Mann, wartime and postwar experience
Existential perception of the Holocaust
Existential perception of the Holocaust, Elisabeth Mann
Concentration camps, German
Auschwitz Birkenau (Poland: Concentration camp), prisoners, pictorial depiction
Auschwitz Birkenau (Poland: Concentration camp), prisoners, pictorial depiction, Elisabeth Mann
Forced labor at Auschwitz Birkenau, pictorial depiction
forced labor at Auschwitz Birkenau, pictorial depiction, Elisabeth Mann
Pictorial depiction of day-to-day life in German concentration camps
Prisoners of German concentration camps, pictorial depiction
Forced labor in concentration camps
Elisabeth Mann, Forced labor at Auschwitz Birkenau
Erszebet Mohr (Elisabeth Mann), existential depiction, postwar
Creators:
Elisabeth Mann, former prisoner of German concentration camps (1940s -- 1950s)
Document/Artifact of Item-Level 5: RG-22.05, A small boat with oars, a fragment, 1945Add to your cart.View associated digital content.
Elisabeth Mann, A small boat with oars, a fragment, 1945, pencil on paper
Subject/Index Terms:
Elisabeth Mann, postwar pictorial reflections
Elisabeth Mann, wartime and postwar experience
Erszebet Mohr (Elisabeth Mann), existential depiction, postwar
Elisabeth Mann, art sketches, postwar
Creators:
Elisabeth Mann, former prisoner of German concentration camps (1940s -- 1950s)
Document/Artifact of Item-Level 6: RG-22.06, Women at agricultural work, Braunschweig concentration camp, 1945Add to your cart.View associated digital content.
Elisabeth Mann,  Women at agricultural work, Braunschweig concentration camp, 1945, penci on paper
Subject/Index Terms:
Elisabeth Mann, art sketches, postwar
Elisabeth Mann, postwar pictorial reflections
Elisabeth Mann, sketches portraying prisoners of German concentration camps, 1945 -- 1949
Postwar personal reflections on the Holocaust
Postwar personal reflections on the Holocaust, Elisabeth Mann
Concentration camps, German
Existential perception of the Holocaust
Erszebet Mohr (Elisabeth Mann), existential depiction, postwar
Prisoners of German concentration camps, pictorial depiction
Prisoners of German concentration camps, pictorial depiction, Elisabeth Mann
Elisabeth Mann, Forced labor at Auschwitz Birkenau
Braunschweig (Germany: Concentration Camp), female prisoners, pictorial depiction
Braunschweig (Germany: Concentration Camp), female prisoners, pictorial depiction, Elisabeth Mann
Braunschweig (Germany: Concentration camp), female prisoners, agricultural works pictorial depiction
Braunschweig (Germany: Concentration Camp)
Braunschweig (German: concentration camp), female prisoners
Female prisoners of the German concentration camps
Creators:
Elisabeth Mann, former prisoner of German concentration camps (1940s -- 1950s)
Document/Artifact of Item-Level 2: RG-22.02, Portrait of a child, 1945Add to your cart.View associated digital content.
Elisabeth Mann, Portrait of a child, 1945 -- 1949
Subject/Index Terms:
Elisabeth Mann, postwar pictorial reflections
Elisabeth Mann, wartime and postwar experience
Children in the Holocaust, postwar portrayal
Children in the Holocaust, postwar portrayal, Elisabeth Mann
Existential perception of the Holocaust
Existential perception of the Holocaust, Elisabeth Mann
Sweden (1945 -- present)
Erszebet Mohr (Elisabeth Mann), existential depiction, postwar
Creators:
Elisabeth Mann, former prisoner of German concentration camps (1940s -- 1950s)
Document/Artifact of Item-Level 7: RG-22.07, A woman at work, Braunschweig concentration camp, 1945Add to your cart.View associated digital content.

Pencil on paper sketch of a woman at work in Braunschweig concentration camp, near Wolfsburg.

Artist: Elisabeth Mann, survivor of German concentration camps.

Subject/Index Terms:
Braunschweig (German: concentration camp), female prisoners
Braunschweig (Germany: Concentration Camp)
Braunschweig (Germany: concentration camp), female prisoners, agricultural works, Elisabeth Mann
Braunschweig (Germany: Concentration Camp), female prisoners, pictorial depiction
Braunschweig (Germany: Concentration Camp), female prisoners, pictorial depiction, Elisabeth Mann
Children in the Holocaust, postwar portrayal, Elisabeth Mann
Elisabeth Mann, art sketches, postwar
Elisabeth Mann, Forced labor at Auschwitz Birkenau
Elisabeth Mann, A woman at work, Braunschweig concentration camp
Prisoners of German concentration camps, pictorial depiction, Elisabeth Mann
Existential perception of the Holocaust, Elisabeth Mann
Erszebet Mohr (Elisabeth Mann), former prisoner of German concentration camps, survivor
Erszebet Mohr (Elisabeth Mann), existential depiction, postwar
Postwar personal reflections on the Holocaust
Postwar personal reflections on the Holocaust, Elisabeth Mann
Female prisoners of the German concentration camps
Concentration camps, German
Holocaust-related art
Elisabeth Mann, postwar pictorial reflections
Elisabeth Mann, existential perception of day-to-day life in German concentration camps
Elisabeth Mann, Women at agricultural work, Braunschweig concentration camp
Creators:
Elisabeth Mann, former prisoner of German concentration camps (1940s -- 1950s)
Document/Artifact of Item-Level 8: RG-22.08, Germany, a family on the way, 1944Add to your cart.View associated digital content.
This is a pencil on paper sketch by artist and Holocaust survivor, Elisabeth Mann. The sketch depicts a refugee family on the move in Germany.
Subject/Index Terms:
Braunschweig (German: concentration camp), female prisoners
Braunschweig (Germany: concentration camp), female prisoners, agricultural works, Elisabeth Mann
Braunschweig (Germany: Concentration camp), female prisoners, agricultural works pictorial depiction
Braunschweig (Germany: Concentration Camp), female prisoners, pictorial depiction, Elisabeth Mann
Elisabeth Mann, A woman at work, Braunschweig concentration camp
Elisabeth Mann, art sketches, postwar
Elisabeth Mann, Forced labor at Auschwitz Birkenau
Prisoners of German concentration camps, pictorial depiction, Elisabeth Mann
Existential perception of the Holocaust, Elisabeth Mann
Erszebet Mohr (Elisabeth Mann), existential depiction, postwar
Erszebet Mohr (Elisabeth Mann), former prisoner of German concentration camps, survivor
Postwar personal reflections on the Holocaust, Elisabeth Mann
Postwar personal reflections on the Holocaust
Concentration camps, German
Female prisoners of the German concentration camps
Holocaust-related art
Elisabeth Mann, postwar pictorial reflections
Elisabeth Mann, existential perception of day-to-day life in German concentration camps
Elisabeth Mann, Women at agricultural work, Braunschweig concentration camp
Creators:
Elisabeth Mann, former prisoner of German concentration camps (1940s -- 1950s)
Document/Artifact of Item-Level 9: RG-22.09, Woman from Auschwitz, 1945Add to your cart.View associated digital content.
This is a pencil on paper sketch by artist and Holocaust survivor, Elisabeth Mann. This sketch depicts a portrait of a women imprisoned in Auschwitz concentration camp.
Subject/Index Terms:
Auschwitz (Concentration camp)
Elisabeth Mann, Prisoners at Auschwitz, sketch, pencil on paper
Elisabeth Mann, former prisoner of German concentration camps, survivor
Auschwitz Birkenau (Poland: Concentration camp), prisoners, pictorial depiction, Elisabeth Mann
Auschwitz Birkenau (Poland: Concentration Camp), female prisoners pictorial depiction Elisabeth Mann
Elisabeth Mann, art sketches, postwar
Elisabeth Mann, A woman in Auschwitz, sketch, pencil on paper
Elisabeth Mann, A woman at work, Braunschweig concentration camp
Elisabeth Mann, existential perception of day-to-day life in German concentration camps
Elisabeth Mann, Forced labor at Auschwitz Birkenau
Elisabeth Mann, Holocaust experience through pictorial realization, 1945 -- 1945
Erszebet Mohr (Elisabeth Mann), existential depiction, postwar
Erszebet Mohr (Elisabeth Mann), former prisoner of German concentration camps, survivor
Prisoners of German concentration camps, pictorial depiction, Elisabeth Mann
Elisabeth Mann, postwar pictorial reflections
Holocaust-related art
Concentration camps, German
Female prisoners of the German concentration camps
Existential perception of the Holocaust, Elisabeth Mann
Creators:
Elisabeth Mann, former prisoner of German concentration camps (1940s -- 1950s)
Document/Artifact of Item-Level 10: RG-22.10, Elisabeth Mann, Portrait of a Woman, 1949Add to your cart.View associated digital content.
This is an oil on canvas painting, entitled "Portrait of a Woman", painted by Elisabeth Mann, artist and survivor of German concentration camps.
Subject/Index Terms:
Auschwitz Birkenau (Poland: Concentration Camp), female prisoners pictorial depiction Elisabeth Mann
Auschwitz Birkenau (Poland: Concentration camp), prisoners, pictorial depiction, Elisabeth Mann
Braunschweig (Germany: concentration camp), female prisoners, agricultural works, Elisabeth Mann
Braunschweig (Germany: Concentration Camp), female prisoners, pictorial depiction, Elisabeth Mann
Children in the Holocaust, postwar portrayal, Elisabeth Mann
Elisabeth Mann, art sketches, postwar
Elisabeth Mann, existential perception of day-to-day life in German concentration camps
Elisabeth Mann, former prisoner of German concentration camps, survivor
Elisabeth Mann, Holocaust experience through pictorial realization, 1945 -- 1945
Elisabeth Mann, portrait of a woman, sketch, pencil on paper
Elisabeth Mann, postwar pictorial reflections
Elisabeth Mann, sketches portraying prisoners of German concentration camps, 1945 -- 1949
Elisabeth Mann, wartime and postwar experience
Prisoners of German concentration camps, pictorial depiction, Elisabeth Mann
Postwar personal reflections on the Holocaust, Elisabeth Mann
Existential perception of the Holocaust, Elisabeth Mann
Erszebet Mohr (Elisabeth Mann), existential depiction, postwar
Erszebet Mohr (Elisabeth Mann), former prisoner of German concentration camps, survivor
Female prisoners of the German concentration camps
Holocaust-related art
Concentration camps, German
Creators:
Elisabeth Mann, former prisoner of German concentration camps (1940s -- 1950s)
Document/Artifact of Item-Level 11: RG-22.11, Portrait of a woman, 1949. Oil on plywoodAdd to your cart.View associated digital content.
This is an oil on plywood artwork entitled, "Portrait of a Woman", made by Elisabeth Mann, artist and survivor of German concentration camps.
Subject/Index Terms:
Auschwitz Birkenau (Poland: Concentration Camp), female prisoners pictorial depiction Elisabeth Mann
Auschwitz Birkenau (Poland: Concentration camp), prisoners, pictorial depiction, Elisabeth Mann
Elisabeth Mann, Forced labor at Auschwitz Birkenau
Elisabeth Mann, Prisoners at Auschwitz, sketch, pencil on paper
Elisabeth Mann, existential perception of day-to-day life in German concentration camps
Elisabeth Mann, former prisoner of German concentration camps, survivor
Elisabeth Mann, Holocaust experience through pictorial realization, 1945 -- 1945
Elisabeth Mann, postwar pictorial reflections
Elisabeth Mann, sketches portraying prisoners of German concentration camps, 1945 -- 1949
Prisoners of German concentration camps, pictorial depiction, Elisabeth Mann
Postwar personal reflections on the Holocaust, Elisabeth Mann
Erszebet Mohr (Elisabeth Mann), former prisoner of German concentration camps, survivor
Erszebet Mohr (Elisabeth Mann), existential depiction, postwar
Elisabeth Mann. Portrait of a Women, 1949
Holocaust-related art
Concentration camps, German
Female prisoners of the German concentration camps
Creators:
Elisabeth Mann, former prisoner of German concentration camps (1940s -- 1950s)