12 Puvodnich Litografii Z Nemeckych Koncentracnich Taboru [a dozen original lithographs from German concentration camps] by Leo Haas. Published by Vydal Svaz Ozvobozených Politických Vězňů a Pozůstalých Po Politických Vězních [Union of liberated political prisoners]. Prague, 1947.
A dozen lithographs portraying German extermination camps by the artist Leo Haas; accompanied by a booklet with an introduction and texts for each lithograph (English, Russian, Czech and French). The artist's signature, in pencil, appears on the title page.
Leo Haas (1901-1983), was born in Opava, Czechoslovakia. Studied art in the Karlsruhe Academy and in Berlin and worked as an illustrator for newspapers and periodicals in Vienna. In 1926 he returned to his hometown, and shortly afterwards became famous for his portraits. In 1937, following the first pogrom in Opava, his art was declared as "degenerate art" and he was accused of "cultural Bolshevism" because his drawings appeared in a workers' newspaper. After thr Crystal Night he moved to Ostrava. In October 1939 Haas was sent to Nisko labor camp. While in the camp, he painted portraits of SS soldiers and of the supervisors, in return for more food and art supplies. His paintings, documenting the construction of the camp and the prisoners, survived and constitute a rare and important document of the period. When the labor camp in Nisko was dismantled, he returned to Ostrava; later he was sent to the Terezin Ghetto. In Terezin Haas was a member of the technical-graphic department, together with Otto Unger, Bedrich Fritta and other artists. In 1944, when the Ghetto painters were investigated as to their ties with illegal organizations and with elements outside the Ghetto, he was accused of distribution of propaganda and sent to Auschwitz. For several months Haas was moved from camp to camp. Finally he was sent to Ebensee concentration camp which was liberated by the American Army in 1945. After the war Haas returned to Terezin and to other venues where he lived, and succeeded in locating his paintings. For the rest of his life, Haas was committed to the documentation of crimes he witnessed. For additional information about Haas - see enclosed material. 12 leaves - lithographs, 48X34 cm. + [1] folded sheet. No folder. Good condition. Slightly stained and damaged.
From the collection of Haim Hefer.