View From Offizier Lager
Object numberM2007/060:009
TitleView From Offizier Lager
Creator Maximilian Feuerring (artist)
DescriptionOne of a series of 14 watercolours painted by Maximilian Feuerring in Oflag VII prisoner of war (POW) camp in Murnau, Upper Bavaria, circa 1939-1945. The word Oflag derives from the German word Offizierslager and translates to Officers' Camp. Number 13 from this so-called 'Barbed Wire Series' is in the collection of the National Gallery of Australia. The artworks are all signed 'M Feuerring' at the bottom right hand corner. The reverse of all are stamped 'Oflag V11 A 18 Gepruft' (checked or examined by a censor). Feuerring was permitted to paint during the day in the Invalid/Sick Block beside a window overlooking the Swiss Alps. Each of the paintings depicts the same view; a fence, trees, mountains and sky, with variations depending on the time of day, season and weather.
Maximilian Feuerring (1896-1985) was born and educated in Poland. He headed the Jewish Academy of Art in Warsaw. He was held in a German army POW camp for captured Polish army officers during World War II; captured after 16 days of active duty, until the end of the war. After the war, he became a professor of art in Munich and taught painting. In Australia, where he arrived in March 1950, he became known for mastering the monotype technique - painting directly onto an engraver's copper plate and transferring the image to paper.
Feuerring was moved through a number of prisoner-of-war camps before he was finally sent to Oflag VII in Murnau. The captured soldiers were housed in the vacant barracks of an armoured German regimen fighting in Europe, consisting of a 200 square metre enclosure surrounded by barbed-wire fencing and guard towers with machine guns. Immediately after the German invasion of Poland, some 1,000 prisoners were imprisoned there; by early 1945 the number had risen to over 5,000. Detainees were protected under the 1929 Geneva Convention, requiring that prisoners be treated humanely at all times. Nevertheless, the amount of food provided was poor and prisoners were close to starvation. The living quarters were dark, crowded and cold. Feuerring developed lifelong health issues from this period. The inmates were permitted to organize a variety of activities to occupy their time; there were discussion groups, lectures, literary circles, art classes and theatre groups. Feuerring conducted the art classes. He also drew about 2,000 portraits of his fellow prisoners to send home to their families.
Maximilian Feuerring (1896-1985) was born and educated in Poland. He headed the Jewish Academy of Art in Warsaw. He was held in a German army POW camp for captured Polish army officers during World War II; captured after 16 days of active duty, until the end of the war. After the war, he became a professor of art in Munich and taught painting. In Australia, where he arrived in March 1950, he became known for mastering the monotype technique - painting directly onto an engraver's copper plate and transferring the image to paper.
Feuerring was moved through a number of prisoner-of-war camps before he was finally sent to Oflag VII in Murnau. The captured soldiers were housed in the vacant barracks of an armoured German regimen fighting in Europe, consisting of a 200 square metre enclosure surrounded by barbed-wire fencing and guard towers with machine guns. Immediately after the German invasion of Poland, some 1,000 prisoners were imprisoned there; by early 1945 the number had risen to over 5,000. Detainees were protected under the 1929 Geneva Convention, requiring that prisoners be treated humanely at all times. Nevertheless, the amount of food provided was poor and prisoners were close to starvation. The living quarters were dark, crowded and cold. Feuerring developed lifelong health issues from this period. The inmates were permitted to organize a variety of activities to occupy their time; there were discussion groups, lectures, literary circles, art classes and theatre groups. Feuerring conducted the art classes. He also drew about 2,000 portraits of his fellow prisoners to send home to their families.
Production placeMurnau, Germany
Subjectart, prisoners of war
Object namepaintings
Dimensions
- width: 261.00 mm
height: 203.00 mm
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Dr Ted Jackson