Thursday, December 2, 2021

Service, Art, And The Capacity For Evil

Lotta Hitschmanova was an anti-Nazi journalist who fled Europe for Canada in 1942, becoming a citizen and spending the rest of her working life as a humanitarian, decorated for her work by many countries along the way. 


Flight Lieutenant Aba Bayefsky worked as a war artist and documented survivors at Bergen-Belsen. Some of his work was displayed, but I could not photograph it. His quote speaks to what he saw, and certainly rings true.


Another artist who served was Molly Lamb, serving in the Canadian Women's Army Corps. This is CWACs On Leave In Amsterdam.


Here we have her painting Signal Corps Teletypists On Night Duty, Apeldoorn, painted in 1945.


And this is Private Virginia Stansell Singing, Tivoli Theatre, Apeldoorn, C Unit Canadian Army Shows.



One more of her works.


Another letter from nurse Winnie Burwash is displayed here.


Going home: the dream of those who had served in the war in Europe. Some went home early after victory. Others were heading to the Pacific. Others would spend a year or more in occupation duty.


One of the lucky early ones wrote these letters home to his future wife. We'll look at him tomorrow.

36 comments:

  1. The paintings all have a softness to them, they are lovely.

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  2. The art work is beautiful.
    Take care, enjoy your day!

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  3. The veneer of civilization is very thin, isn't it?

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  4. Good that art isn´t banned in war-times.

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  5. Men and women of courage. Beautiful paintings. Have a great day.

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  6. ...evil has a way of being a part of life.

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  7. These are amazing artifacts. Good to be able to understand history.

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  8. @Italiafinlandia: I agree

    @Gemel: definitely.

    @Eileen: thank you.

    @David: it can be.

    @Iris: indeed.

    @Nancy: thanks!

    @Tom: it does.

    @Jennifer: yes.

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  9. Thankfully there are always some brave people.

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  10. I really love Molly Lamb's artistic style. Those paintings really speak to me.

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  11. love her work! very inspiring...

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  12. I really enjoyed this post, William.

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  13. Those paintings are wonderful.

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  14. @Sami: indeed.

    @Magiceye: I agree.

    @Jeanie: to me as well.

    @b.c.: definitely.

    @RedPat: thanks!

    @Sharon: they are.

    @Jan: I think so.

    @Bill: indeed.

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  15. Lotta Hitschmanova is a name I knew well in my youth.

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    Replies
    1. From time spent here, I assume, as she based her work from here.

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  16. Lot of interesting people you would never hear about normalcy

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  17. La guerra puede sacar lo mejor y lo peor del ser humano. La historia ha sido depositaria de actos que habla de la grandeza del corazón y otros actos sin embargo, son motivados por el gran odio que también se puede desarrollaren el interior del hombre y que los manifiestas en acciones de la mayor crueldad.

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  18. I remember the blurb for Lota as were heard it 100's of times.

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  19. Hmm, I wonder where "Virginia" Stansell got her first name. Maybe her family had some connection with our Commonwealth? :-)

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  20. Fascinating people and all very creative ~ ^_^

    Happy Days to you,

    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  21. I seem to be able to comment again! I love the Molly Lamb paingings:)

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  22. Well done to all those people, anyone that stood up to the Nazi regime deserves recognition.

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