Charlotte Salomon

Place: Berlin

Born: 1917

Death: 1943

Biography:

Early Life and Struggles

, a German-Jewish artist, was born in Berlin in 1917. Her life was marked by turmoil from an early age, with her mother's suicide when Charlotte was just eight or nine years old. This event would later influence her autobiographical painting series, Leben? oder Theater?: Ein Singspiel (Life? or Theater?: A Song-play), consisting of 769 individual works painted between 1941 and 1943.

Artistic Pursuits and Exile

Despite the Nazi regime's restrictions, Salomon gained admission to the Vereinigte Staatsschulen für freie und angewandte Kunst (United State Schools for Pure and Applied Arts) in 1936. However, she was forced to leave due to the escalating antisemitic policies. In 1938, her father was briefly interned in Sachsenhausen concentration camp, prompting the family's decision to flee Germany.

The Autobiographical Series and Its Significance

While in exile in the south of France, Salomon created her magnum opus, Life? or Theater?. This series not only reflects her own experiences but also delves into her family's history of suicide and her struggles with mental health. Each piece is a poignant reflection of her inner turmoil and the external pressures that shaped her life.

Tragic End and Legacy

In October 1943, Salomon was captured and deported to Auschwitz, where she was murdered by the Nazis at the age of 26. Her work was rediscovered in the 1970s and has since been recognized as a significant contribution to expressionist art.

• View Charlotte Salomon's artworks on https://Wikioo.org/@/Charlotte-Salomon
• Explore the Kunstsalon Franke Schenk, a museum showcasing German artists, at https://Wikioo.org/Art.nsf/O/A@D3B3Z7
• Learn more about the Dada art movement and its influence on German artists at https://Wikioo.org/@@/A@D3CP9P-The-Dada-Art-Movement
• Discover the Lubecker Museen in Germany and its notable paintings at https://Wikioo.org/@@/A@D3B26F

work serves as a poignant reminder of the devastating impact of war and prejudice on individual lives, yet her art continues to inspire and educate audiences worldwide.