David Friedmann

Timeline - Artist as Witness

1893

Born December 20, in Mährisch Ostrau, Austria (today Ostrava, Czech Republic). Raised in a modest home with two brothers and a sister.  Early interest in art and violin playing.  After finishing school, worked with a master sign painter for three years and received a certificate of apprenticeship.

1911

At the age of 17, ventured to Berlin. Initially worked as a sign painter, later as a painter for the theater (scenery design).  Studied art with Leo Kober and at the school of Lewin-Funcke. 

1914

His artistic talent is discovered.  Advised by Max Liebermann to study further with Lovis Corinth and was invited to his master class.  Studied with renowned etcher Hermann Struck (1912-1914).  Opened studio at Xantener Str. 23, the same apartment house as Felix Nussbaum.  Whether the two artists knew each other is unknown.

1917 - 1918

Served as an artist in the Austro-Hungarian army on the Russian Front in World War I.  Sketched combat scenes and portraits of soldiers distinguishing themselves in battle and was decorated for his bravery.  Returned to Berlin and his studio, producing paintings, drawings, etchings, and lithographs.  With the establishment of Czechoslovakia, he automatically became a Czech citizen.

1919 - 1933

Exhibitions at the Akademie der Künste, Secession, Juryfreie, in Berlin, Breslau, Dresden, Hamburg, Leipzig, Munich and other cities. Became renowned for his portraits drawn from real life. This talent played a central role throughout his career and saved his life during the Holocaust.  In 1921, he studied violin with Richard Hartzer, under the direction of Carl Flesch. He joined the Freemasons, St. Johannisloge “Germania zur Einigkeit” from January 26, 1922 until the closing down of the lodges by the German Reich.  Portrayed most of the members.

1923 - 1933

Freelance artist for Ullstein-Verlag „Der Deutsche Rundfunk", and other publications.

Funeral for Lovis Corinth in the Secession. For the „B.Z. am Mittag" sketched by Friedmann, July 22, 1925

Richard Tauber	Paul Graetz	Meinhart Maur	Max Rostal	James Simon
Leo Slezak	Therese Rothauser	Karl Zander	Hedwig Wangel	Hansi Freudberg

Portrayed hundreds of famous contemporary personalities, including portfolio editions of world chess champions „Das Schachmeister Tournier in Mährisch Ostrau, Juli 1923" and „Köpfe berühmter Schachmeister". 

Emanuel Lasker

Akiba Rubinstein

Heinrich Wolf

They were among the great chess masters of Europe until Hitler came to power in 1933.

Lost Portraits of Famous Chess Masters by Friedmann

1933

Jewish work prohibition.  Ordered to remove art from galleries; forbidden to work as an artist and closed his studio.  Built a successful business renovating buildings, which was permitted because of his Czech citizenship.

1937

Married Mathilde Fuchs, daughter of philologist Prof. Dr. Maximillian Fuchs.

1938

In September, the birth of daughter Mirjam Helene. In December, fled to Prague leaving behind hundreds of etchings, lithographs, drawings, and paintings. His art was confiscated by the Gestapo in Berlin in 1941 and was never recovered: Lost Art Internet Database. Once again he enjoyed painting for himself and working as an artist. In 1940-1941 he produced portraits of the leading Zionists, governing officials of the Palestine Office and the Jewish Community of Prague.

Mathilde, Mirjam Helene, and David Friedmann
Prague, February 7, 1940

1941

October 16, deported with his family on the first transport “A” from Prague to the Lodz Ghetto (Litzmannstadt).  The new art production was confiscated.

1941 - 1944

In Lodz Ghetto he worked in Metall II as designer of jewelry, cigarette cases, and badges for doctors and firefighters. He painted scenes of his family, documented work in the factories and the infernal life of the Ghetto. Produced portraits of the leaders in exchange for provisions; otherwise, they would have perished.  He kept a diary and wrote poetry.  Contributor to “The Chronicle of the Lodz Ghetto 1941-1944”. His art and diary were lost.

Photos of 1943 drawings of a Ghetto hat-manufacturing workshop found in the State Archive in Lodz

1944

End of August, liquidation of Ghetto and deportation to Auschwitz-Birkenau.  Loss of wife and child. Loss of works produced in the Ghetto. Transport to Concentration Camp Gleiwitz I; Survived primarily as an artist by the whims of the SS.

1945

Death March to Concentration Camp Blechhammer, Oberschlesien. He was liberated January 25 and went to Krakow, Ostrava, and Prague. He produced a series of drawings and paintings depicting his experiences in the Ghetto and concentration camps. In 1946-1947, exhibitions took place in Palestine, Prague, and several towns in the former Sudetenland, Czechoslovakia. Inspired by the industrial landscape, he painted the series, "Life of the Coalmine Workers of Habartov."

1948

Marriage to Hildegard Taussig, survivor of the Theresienstadt Ghetto, Auschwitz-Birkenau, and Christianstadt Concentration Camps. Daughter of chemical engineer Karl Taussig. Hildegard Taussig's Holocaust Timeline.

1949

In July, fled Communist Czechoslovakia to Israel, managing to deceive officials and save his series of Holocaust art.

1950

Birth of daughter Miriam in Israel.

1954

Arrived in New York City in November.  Began new career painting huge billboards for General Outdoor Advertising Co.  Transferred by GOA to Chicago, Illinois and then finally, to St. Louis, Missouri in 1956.

1960

American citizen.  Dropped the double “n” spelling of surname.

1962

Retired from GOA at the age of 68. Worked passionately and relentlessly to create the scenes he could not erase from his memory. This new cycle of Holocaust art is entitled, "Because They Were Jews!". Simultaneously he produced, "Enjoyment in Libraries with the Candid Pencil of David Friedman". Exhibitions followed in St. Louis and the Finkelstein Memorial Library, Spring Valley, NY

"Liberation?" (Charcoal, 1964)
A drawing from the series, "Because They Were Jews!"

Hildegard Taussig Friedman: Prisoner No. A-4622
David Friedman: Prisoner No. B-8600
Photo by Bob Holt: St. Louis, Missouri, 1961

1980

Died February 27, St. Louis, Missouri.

The works of David Friedmann are represented in the permanent collections of the Holocaust History Museum, Yad Vashem, Jerusalem; Beit Terezin, Givat Haim Ihud, Israel; United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Washington D.C.; St. Louis Holocaust Museum and Learning Center; St. Louis Public Library; Finkelstein Memorial Library, NY; State Museum Auschwitz-Birkenau, Poland; Jewish Museum Prague; Ostrava Museum; Sokolov Regional Museum, Czech Republic; New Synagogue Berlin - Centrum Judaicum, Germany; and the Koninklijke Bibliotheek, National Library of the Netherlands.

Self-Portrait of the Artist David Friedman, 1967
St. Louis, Missouri

Related Information

• Biography of David Friedmann (1893-1980)
• Stolpersteine: Paderborner Strasse 9, Berlin
• David Friedmann, A Berlin Press Artist
• Portraits of the Prague Jewish Community 1940-41
• Theresienstadt Martyrs Rememberance Assocoiation (page 10) (PDF)
• United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
• Finkelstein Memorial Library
• Lost portraits of famous chess masters and other artworks by Friedmann
  • Cleveland Finds II
  • Request of Miriam Friedman Morris
  • Lost Art Internet Database
  • Searching for the Lost Art of David Friedmann

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