“Who was Felix Nussbaum?” I want to ask you. This Berliner Gedenktafel Felix Nussbaum Plaque marks a place of remembrance for a talented artist. It stands as a testament to a life tragically cut short.
The Berliner Gedenktafel Felix Nussbaum Plaque is located on Xantener Strasse 23. It commemorates Felix Nussbaum, a painter of the New Realism movement. He lived and worked here from 1928 to 1932. The plaque was unveiled on December 11, 1989.
Felix Nussbaum was born on December 11, 1904. He died on August 9, 1944. Nussbaum’s artistic talent earned him a scholarship to study in Rome. The Preußische Akademie der Künste awarded it for 1932-33. But after the Nazis seized power, this scholarship was revoked.
Facing persecution, Nussbaum and his girlfriend Felka Platek emigrated to Belgium. They lived in Brussels until 1942. They first stayed in Rue Archimède. Later, they sought refuge in the home of sculptor Dolf Ledel. In March 1943, they returned to their old Brussels home.
Tragedy struck on June 20, 1944. Nussbaum and Platek were denounced and arrested by the Gestapo. On July 31, 1944, they were deported to Auschwitz. There, they were murdered.
Amidst the chaos, Nussbaum’s hidden paintings remained undiscovered by the Nazis. Today, these works are predominantly housed in the Kulturhistorisches Museum in Osnabrück. They stand as a testament to his talent and resilience.
Standing before the Berliner Gedenktafel Felix Nussbaum Plaque, we reflect on Nussbaum’s life. We remember his art and the injustices he faced. The plaque serves as a reminder of the importance of tolerance and remembrance. It urges us to learn from the past and stand against all forms of hatred and discrimination.