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The Symbolism in Suffering: Art and the Holocaust by Terri Pinyerd

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The Symbolism in Suffering: Art and the Holocaust by Terri Pinyerd University of Hawai‘i at Hilo HOHONU 2016 Vol. 14 The Symbolism in Suffering: record the everyday life of a Jewish prisoner, but instead represent their internal struggles. It is in these artworks Art and the Holocaust that symbols play a larger role. Terri Pinyerd One of the most common symbols found in English 300 Holocaust artworks is the bird, or more specifically, the dove or pigeon. Traditionally, birds embody the “human From the cave paintings in Lascaux, to Vincent desire to break free”, and in fairy tales are often depicted Van Gogh's starry skies, mankind has been adept at as guardians who bring food to people who are good expressing emotion through symbolism in the artistic (Biedermann 39). In one Auschwitz artwork, Pigeon with medium for thousands of years. The process of creating Message, a bird is depicted holding a small envelope an art piece requires unity of mind, body, and spirit. embellished with a swastika (see fig. 2, Appx. A). The The events of the Holocaust ignited a series of traumatic bird as a symbol of freedom in combination with the events - for both the survivors and their loved ones - and arrival of a letter could very well be the artist's fantasy perhaps this is why there are so many artworks pertaining of the arrival of good news, such as a pardon. One thing to these horrific events. The creation of art allows the worth noting is the lack of birds depicted in Spiegelman's artist to express emotions that may be deemed negative Maus. In fact, the only winged animals shown are the - anger, frustration, guilt. In these artworks, symbols flies surrounding dead bodies (and in certain frames, Art become the vessels of emotion. For the purposes of this himself), and the briefly depicted Gypsy moth who tells paper, I will be exploring the symbolism in many of the Anya her future (Spiegelman 201-293). However, later artworks found within the concentration camps, while in the story Spiegelman draws a scene which shows the comparing them to Art Spiegelman's graphic novel, camp prisoners in a tranquil natural setting. There are Maus. trees all around them and – just across the lake – birds in To begin with, I will elaborate on a few terms flight. This is symbolic, as the prisoners – who are now for better understanding. First, Holocaust artwork is, as technically free – are being marched away from safety Dr. Henry W. Pickford, author of A Sense of Semblance, by the Nazis. The birds in flight, just in view, symbolize defines it, “the class of any artwork that is about the the freedom that is just within their grasp, but still not Holocaust, that is, the intentionality or content of close enough. which includes reference, direct or indirect, to the Subjects of innocence are frequently depicted Nazi project of humiliation, deprivation, degradation, in Holocaust artwork. Cherubs and kittens are often and extermination against the Jews and other marked shown, and this is not odd, considering that “Cats,” as groups” (Pickford 3). This includes mediums ranging Biedermann states, “being difficult to catch or confine, from the painting to the graphic novel, and everything in signify liberty” (Biedermann 60). One prison camp between. artwork shows two kittens bathing (see fig 4. Appx. A). Second, there is the concept of signs and However simple this sketch may seem, it still contains symbols. By definition, a symbol is “anything which elements of the symbolic - the kittens engaging in the signifies something else; in this sense all words are simple act of bathing, a creature comfort that many symbols” (Abrams 392). Through this definition it of the prisoners were not allowed. The artist's idea of becomes apparent that symbols rely on language, and freedom may just be that – the ability to partake in the vice versa. This is also stated by Ferdinand de Saussure: simple things in life. “without the help of signs we would be unable to make One thing to note is how Spiegelman represents a clear-cut, consistent distinction between two ideas.” the Germans as cats. While they are still the villains of (Saussure 5). In art, the way a specific object or word is the story, they do, in fact, represent liberty. The Germans depicted dictates its position as a symbol; for example, are not the ones being held prisoner; on the contrary, in Van Gogh's piece, “Two Cut Sunflowers,” the they make up the majority of those in charge. Still, sunflowers become the symbol by virtue of their solitude Spiegelman does not depict his German cats as innocent and placement on a plain blue background (see fig. 1, looking kittens. They are angry, fanged, and frightening. Appx. A). By following these definitions, symbolism in This could play along with belief that cats symbolized Holocaust artwork becomes more apparent and easier evil, lasciviousness, and cruelty, or it could simply be a to analyze. representation of the binary opposition between cat and Perhaps some of the most symbolic Holocaust mouse, Germans and Jews (Biedermann 59). artworks are those found within Auschwitz. “The walls Although Spiegelman does not include them of Auschwitz,” states Czarnecki, “-- witnesses to this in his graphic novel, camels are a common subject century's worst horrors – contain many different kinds in concentration camp art. Also considered to be a of art: paintings, drawings, scratchings” (Czarnecki xiii). symbol of moderation and sobriety, the camel became a Many depict scenes of torture and labor – historical symbol of accepting life's burdens humbly and without records of the times. However, many more are simply complaint (Biedermann 56). Camels are also viewed as small, seemingly unrelated images, images that do not a symbol of obedience, and perhaps this is why they 57 University of Hawai‘i at Hilo HOHONU 2016 Vol. 14 are seen depicted frequently on the walls of Auschwitz. this symbolization. If we follow this path, it becomes However, the camels are not portrayed on their own. In apparent that the sun is a secondary symbol in Kochba's the piece Camels and Pyramids (see fig 5. Appx. A), a work. Commonly viewed as the destroyer of darkness, camel is depicted alongside a man and palm tree in the the sun represents victory, life force, and force of will foreground, with darkened pyramids in the background. (Biedermann 331). This kind of decorative art depicts the exotic and fantastic, Eyes are another common symbol in Holocaust and in some respects it is like a mirage or an escape. As artwork. Eyes are considered to be among the most Czarnecki states, “This is the one example in this book of important symbols, associated with “light and a kind of decorative painting that was fairly widespread intellectual perspicacity; at the same time the eye has in Auschwitz, by which the walls were adorned with long been considered not only a receptive organ but stripes, ‘marbling,’ and repeated patterns of various also the transmitter of ‘beams,’ the image of spiritual kinds, often stenciled” (Biedermann 58). Whether or not expressivity. Evil creatures or those with great magical these decorative paintings were commissioned by the powers were thought to have eyes whose gaze rendered German officers is unknown, and so for now it is safe to others powerless or turned them to stone.” (Biedermann assume that these were created solely for the pleasure of 122). The representation of the eye as evil is apparent the artist, as a distraction from the grim reality they faced in Van Danzig's drawing, Fright (see fig. 9, Appx. A). every day. In this image, a man is depicted running from several Though animals are some of the most evil looking people, possibly demons, while two large commonly depicted symbols in Holocaust artwork, eyes take up the background. This gives the viewer plants such as trees and flowers have their place as the unsettling feeling of being watched, and the eye as well. In many cultures, trees represent life, but there a “beam”, or the jailer, is exemplified by its size and are many variations on the theme (Biedermann 352). A position in relation to the man in the image. Jewish legend tells that “the progenitor Abraham planted Another image with a similar representation trees everywhere he went, but that they did not thrive; of evil and power is Holocaust artist Wiesenthal's only one, in the land of Canaan, shot up tall. Through Mauthausen Camp (see fig 10. Appx. A). Here a guard of it Abraham could tell whether someone believed in gigantic proportions is seen looming over the entrance the true God or was an idolater. Over the believer the of a giant oven, watching as dozens of camp prisoners tree would spread its branches and offer its shade for march into the flames. He is depicted with long, claw- protection” (Biedermann 352). In Spiegelman's Maus, like fingernails and a remorseless expression, much like lush trees are rarely ever depicted. In fact, most of the a devil of sorts. The presence of a “watchful” eye mirrors trees drawn are dead, leafless, and thin, with very few that of Van Danzig's Fright. This feeling depicted, the extended branches. Following the Jewish legend of feeling of constantly being watched, is apparent in Maus. Abraham and the trees, this could symbolize the lack of When Vladek was in a cell with his friend Mandelbaum, belief in the Jewish religion held by the Germans officers he came across a Polish man in need of someone with in the concentration camps, for most of the trees drawn the ability to write in German (Spiegelman 158).
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