Exploring photographer Roman Vishniac’s archives of Jewish life before the Holocaust is to contemplate just how quickly politics and propaganda can transform—or eviscerate—an entire culture.
In 1935, Vishniac began to photo-document impoverished Jewish communities in order to secure aid for them through the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee. There are about 9,000 photo negatives in Vishniac’s archive, but only 350 of them were printed in the span of his lifetime.
Warsaw Boy in front of kindling in a basement dwelling: 1935–38. Source: Art News
12 of 22
Vishniac’s own daughter Mara in front of an election poster for Hindenburg and Hitler that says, “The Marshal and the Corporal: Fight with Us for Peace and Equal Rights,” Berlin: 1933. Source: Art News
13 of 22
Boy standing atop a giant pile of rubble, Berlin: 1947. Source: Art News
14 of 22
Young Zionists building a school and foundry while learning construction techniques, The Netherlands: 1939. Source: Art News
15 of 22
Boys gathered in admiration of a motorcycle, Brandenburg: early 1930s. Source: Art News
16 of 22
Berlin street photography; notice the swastika flag on the storefront: 1935-36. Source: Art Blart
17 of 22
David Eckstein, seven years old, and his elementary school classmates in heder: 1935-38. Source: Art Blart
18 of 22
A worker in a Jewish soup kitchen: mid to late 1930s. Source: Art Blart
What Jewish Life Looked Like In Europe Before The Holocaust
Vishniac was a Russian-born Jew, who himself spent a number of weeks in a French internment camp, but was later released and moved to New York City with his family. After the war, he continued to photograph the less fortunate within Jewish communities.
Now, the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and International Center for Photography have launched an online database for all of Vishniac’s photos to both highlight his exhaustive body of work and help identify his subjects in the hope that the photos can be placed into the hands of the families. Many of the photos in the archive are uncategorized and undated, and there are very few names listed – but a number of identifications have already been made.
Photos in this gallery highlight all of Vishniac’s work and remind us of the culture lost to the wills of the more powerful.
An All That's Interesting writer since 2013, Erin Kelly focuses on historic places, natural wonders, environmental issues, and the world of science. Her work has also been featured in Smithsonian and she's designed several book covers in her career as a graphic artist.
Kuchunguza kumbukumbu za mpiga picha Roman Vishniac za maisha ya Kiyahudi kabla ya yale Maangamizi Makubwa ni kufikiria jinsi siasa na propaganda vinavyoweza kubadilisha au kuharibu utamaduni mzima kwa haraka. Mwaka 1935 Vishniac alianza kuchapisha picha za jamii za Wayahudi maskini ili kupata msaada kwa ajili yao kupitia Kamati ya Ushirikiano ya Ugawaji ya Wayahudi ya Marekani. Kuna takriban picha 9,000 za negative katika kumbukumbu ya Vishniac, lakini ni 350 tu kati ya hizo zilizochapishwa katika kipindi cha maisha yake. Mvulana wa Warsaw mbele ya moto katika nyumba ya chini ya ardhi: 1935-38. "Mara, binti ya Vishniac mwenyewe, mbele ya bango la uchaguzi kwa Hindenburg na Hitler ambalo linasema, ""Marshal na Corporal: Kupigana na Sisi kwa Amani na Haki Sawa,"" Berlin, 1933." "Mwanamume mmoja wa miaka 22 amewekwa kwenye ""mwamba"" wa mabaki ya jengo la Berlin, Ujerumani." "Mfano: ""Mwanzoni mwa miaka ya 20 ya utawala wa Kiyahudi, vijana wa Kiyahudi walijenga shule na kiwanda cha kutengeneza vyombo vya ujenzi, huku wakijifunza mbinu za ujenzi." "Mfano: ""Mvulana mmoja alikusanyika katika kuvutiwa na pikipiki, Brandenburg: mapema 1930s.""" "Kama ilivyoelezwa katika picha ya ""Art News 16 of 22 Berlin Street Photography"" iliyochorwa na mwandishi wa habari wa Berlin, bendera ya swastika ilikuwa kwenye maduka ya maduka ya maduka ya Berlin mnamo 1935." "Mfano: ""Mwanamume mmoja mwenye umri wa miaka saba, David Eckstein, na wenzake wa shule ya msingi huko Heder, 1935-38." "Kutoka kwa Art Blart, ""Mfanyakazi katika Jumba la Chakula la Wayahudi: Kati ya 1930 na Mwisho wa 1930.""" Maisha ya Wayahudi huko Ulaya kabla ya Holocaust: Mashambulizi ya Wayahudi ya Holocaust ya Ulaya ya Holocaust ya Holocaust ya Holocaust ya Holocaust ya Holocaust ya Holocaust ya Holocaust ya Holocaust ya Holocaust ya Holocaust ya Holocaust ya Holocaust ya Holocaust ya Holocaust ya Holocaust ya Holocaust ya Holocaust ya Holocaust ya Holocaust ya Holocaust ya Holocaust ya Holocaust ya Holocaust ya Holocaust ya Holocaust ya Holocaust ya Holocaust ya Holocaust ya Holocaust ya Holocaust ya Holocaust. Baada ya vita, aliendelea kupiga picha watu wasio na bahati katika jumuiya za Kiyahudi. Sasa, Marekani Makumbusho ya Holocaust na Kituo cha Kimataifa cha Picha vimeanzisha hifadhidata ya mtandaoni ya picha zote za Vishniac ili kuonyesha kazi yake kamili na kusaidia kutambua mada zake kwa matumaini kwamba picha zinaweza kuwekwa mikononi mwa familia. Picha nyingi katika hifadhi hazijaorodheshwa na hazina tarehe, na kuna majina machache sana yaliyoorodheshwa <unk> lakini idadi ya utambulisho tayari umefanywa. Picha katika nyumba hii ya sanaa zinaangazia kazi yote ya Vishniac na kutukumbusha utamaduni uliopotea kwa mapenzi ya wenye nguvu zaidi. "Mwandishi wa ""All That's Interesting"" tangu 2013, Erin Kelly anaelezea ""mahali pa kihistoria, maajabu ya asili, masuala ya mazingira, na ulimwengu wa sayansi.""" Kazi yake pia imeonyeshwa katika Smithsonian na amebuni vifuniko kadhaa vya vitabu katika kazi yake kama msanii wa picha.