The exhibition “The Face of the Ghetto – Pictures Taken by Jewish Photographers in the Litzmannstadt Ghetto, 1940-1944” at POLIN Museum

Maciej Zdziech, 16 November 2016
From 27 January 2015, visitors will have an opportunity to tour the exhibition entitled “The Face of the Ghetto – Pictures Taken by Jewish Photographers in the Litzmannstadt Ghetto, 1940-1944” at POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw.

People detained in the ghetto were forbidden to possess cameras. Yet, a significant part of the photographs from the Łódź Ghetto were taken by Jewish photographers.

The exhibition presents the photographs commissioned by the Jewish Council of Elders. They were meant to document life in the Łódź Ghetto. From among 12 thousand preserved photographs over 50 had been selected and for the first time, that unknown collection was presented to the audience. The photographs are supplemented by the chronicle of events and accounts of the former prisoners who have survived. The aim of the creation of thousands of pictures was to give evidence to dynamism and extraordinary productivity of the Łódź Ghetto which, in the opinion of the Jewish Council Chairman, Chaim Rumkowski, might ensure its survival.  

The exhibition has been prepared by the Topography of Terror Foundation Berlin in cooperation with the State Archive in Łódź.

The vernissage will be held on 26 January 2015, at 6.00 p. m. The exhibition will be on display until 30 March 2015. Admittance to the event is free.