I feel that more of Charlotte’s story needs to be told. So bear with me as I double dip this week.
PHOTO PROMPT © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
Click on the frog picture to add your link.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100
WITH DREAM AWAKENED EYES
Following her grandparents’ deaths, a doctor suggested Charlotte take up painting to ease her depression. She lost herself in gouache. Every day her paintbrushes illustrated her life story. Humming, she rendered herself as a child waiting for her angel mother to return from heaven. Sketching by the sea. The Wehrmacht marching through the streets.
“I become them all,” she said. “I travel their paths. No power on earth can stop me.”
One night, she handed Dr. Moridis her hundreds of masterpieces. “Keep these safe, they are my whole life.”
Months later Charlotte Salomon and her unborn child perished in Auschwitz.
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
Another powerful bit of the cherry
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Dear Neil,
A tragic life cut short with a tragic death. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Very moving paintings.
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The are, aren’t they? So much in so little time.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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The paintings reflect her life & survive as valuable guides.
Sadly, she is no more… But, her life still lives on in her art…
Very nice story, Rochelle.
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Thank you, Anita.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Very powerful story.
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Thank you, Frank.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A very sad life, but a great great gift she gave of it.
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Dear Trent,
She did have a tragic life, almost from birth. Art can be such a solace.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you for expanding on your story. The painting of the Wermacht is so troubling–faceless destruction on the march.
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Dear Linda,
One little story didn’t seem enough in painting Charlotte’s portrait. Thank you for hanging for two.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A lovely tribute to Charlotte and her work, Rochelle. Good writing as always. —- Suzanne
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Thank you times two, Suzanne. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A tragic life, but an eventful one. Thanks for illuminating.
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It seems poor Charlotte was doomed from the beginning. Happy to illuminate. 😉 Thank you, Iain.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Beautiful! I went to the Royal Academy’s fabulous exhibition (twice!) of Charlotte’s paintings twenty years ago in London. The audio guide had opera pieces because I think her mother was a famed opera singer. She was very very talented and died very very young.
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מיכל יקרה
I can imagine what an amazing exhibit that must’ve been. It seems she knew she was living on borrowed time and made the most of every extra minute. Thank you for taking the time to read and comment.
שלום
רחל
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She lives in spirit through her paintings.
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beautiful tribute.
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Thank you, Tina.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Wow. A great story and the link as appreciated. Although a long read, I read the entire story. What a life she had to live. So sad. Thanks for the education….as usual.
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Dear Jan,
A tragic life all the way around. Thanks for taking the time to read, m’luv. Happy to educate. 😉
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I’m glad you wrote this story as well as the other. And the paintings are beautiful.
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Dear Penny,
Thank you for hanging with me for two. The first one just didn’t seem enough. If I’d had more time I might’ve gone for three. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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What a shocker that a paint tray would inspire you to double-dip! In the age of COVID, make sure that’s the only double-dipping you’re doing.
I totally agree with the doctor. Art is cathartic. The world is full of beautiful art spawned from pain.
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Dear Nobbin,
Art is certainly cathartic for me and is what’s kept what’s left of my sanity through quarantine. Fortunately Friday Fictioneers didn’t lag either.
Thank you for hanging out for two.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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War always provokes those anonymous losses.
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True, Larry.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Compelling story!
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Thank you, Lisa! 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, you are most welcome.
Shalom,
Lisa
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oh no, what a tragic story. she might be gone but she’ll continue to live through her art.
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Dear Plaridel,
That’s the beauty of the arts…they remain as a legacy. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
Well worth the double-dip, that is for sure. One can only imagine just how much she would have created had she not perished as she did. She was already quite prolific! Wonderful part deux.
Shalom and lotsa love,
Dale
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Dear Dale,
Had there been more time, I might’ve gone for three. Charlotte lived quite a life in her short 26 years, didn’t she? I, too, wonder where her art would’ve gone had she lived. Although it seems she knew. Many thanks.
Shalom and lotsa hugs,
Rochelle
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It’s amazing from one person to another the difference is life lived
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I’m sure she had no idea how far reaching her art would be.
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No one can ever know.
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I hope her art survived. Something lives on. I think that’s true immortality. Well done.
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Dear Tanille,
Her art does live on and still speaks. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I guess great art most often comes from a place of great pain. They suffer so that we can later on enjoy the beauty of their creations. Glad you told us more of Charlotte’s story!
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Dear Joy,
It does seem that art comes from a deep place…often of deep pain and sorrow. Thank you for your kind comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh, Rochelle.
The stories of man’s inhumanity must be told, written, read, and depicted in art. Evil lurks, often much too close, not simply hidden behind an old uniform.
Peace with courage,
Bill
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Dear Bill,
What a piece of work is man…not always so noble or reasonable. Thank you for your encouraging words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Great stuff, Rochelle! I am reading ‘Maus’ by Art Spiegelman at the moment – a surprisingly effective way of telling a horror story.
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Dear Liz,
I’ve not heard of the book. At any rate, thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh, what a story. Thank you for bringing it to light for me, Rochelle. I enjoyed the New Yorker article and seeing her works. I wrote some stories for you, a bit lighter than your story to this prompt, which whetted my appetite to learn more of Charlotte.
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Dear Ted,
I’m glad my stories set you on the trail to know more. Thank you for such a glowing compliment/comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Beautiful paintings holding so much heartache
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Indeed. Thank you, Laurie.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you for sharing both the stories, Rochelle. Loved them.
Art can be so cathartic.
I’m glad she had something worthwhile to fall back on.
A great life cut short. But her paintings live on.
Have a good weekend!
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Dear Natasha,
I’m glad you enjoyed both of my stories. One didn’t seem enough. Thank you and thank you for retweeting them. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Always ♥️
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A terrible and brilliant life, brilliantly told.
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Thank you, my friend for such a glowing comment/compliment.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rochelle
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xoxo
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I jusT Schindler’s List. So, the scenes came alive, all too heart wrenchingly through the very poignant paintings.
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Dear Neel,
Schindler’s List was a tough one to watch. So well done, but hard. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, more illucidation into a fascinating story that’s got me hungrily reseaching Charlotte. I understand there’s a quite recent documentary about her which I’d like to find if possible.
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Dear Michael,
I have seen a bit of the documentary. She as a fascinating person, struck down too soon. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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This is a heartbreaking story. Her paintings are stunning and her life so tragic–one of six millions. Thank you for writing about Charlotte Salomon and for sharing more information about her. I love the paintings.
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Dear Gabriella,
How easily the words “six million” rolls off the tongue. Six million individual souls with hopes, dreams and futures cut short. I guess that’s one of the reasons I write these kinds of stories. To remind myself. When faced with an individual such as Charlotte Salomon, the number narrows down to another bright candle snuffed aborning. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Profoundly moving story and Charlotte’s paintings.
She has given the gift of the memory of her which endures. Thank you for sharing Charlotte’s story
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Dear Francine,
Charlotte’s story is one that begged to be shared. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
Thanks for sharing Charlotte’s story and her paintings. What a precious gift she had.
Shalom,
Adele
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