“Don’t forget her” the plaque says. This simple yet powerful phrase on the Plaque commémorative de Charlotte Salomon in Cannes speaks volumes. It’s a poignant reminder of a life cut tragically short. A life filled with art and resilience. A life stolen by the horrors of the Holocaust.
This plaque honors Charlotte Salomon a German-Jewish artist. She was born in Berlin in 1917. Her life was marked by tragedy. Her mother committed suicide when Charlotte was only nine years old. The shadow of this loss hung over her childhood. The rise of Nazism further darkened her days. Increasing anti-Semitism forced her to flee Germany in 1939.
Charlotte found refuge in the south of France. There amidst the beauty of the French Riviera. She created her masterpiece Leben? oder Theater? This autobiographical series of 769 paintings is a stunning testament to her talent and her spirit. It tells the story of her family. It details her struggles and her hopes. It depicts the shadow of the Nazi regime.
In this work the characters ‘Daberlohn’ and ‘Paulinka Bimbam’ appear. ‘Daberlohn’ represents her lover Alfred Wolfsohn. ‘Paulinka Bimbam’ stands for her stepmother Paula Salomon-Lindberg. These figures embody the love and support she found in her relationships. They are also a reflection of the complex relationships in her life.
Tragically Charlotte’s escape did not last. In 1943 she was arrested. She was deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau. Five months pregnant she was murdered upon arrival. Her husband Alexander Nagler also perished in Auschwitz.
The Plaque commémorative de Charlotte Salomon serves as a memorial. It is a tribute to a remarkable woman and artist. Her life was cut short but her legacy lives on. Her art continues to inspire and to move people across the world. It reminds us of the importance of remembrance and the enduring power of the human spirit. Let us remember Charlotte Salomon and her story. Let us never forget.