Pre-war photograph of Jew taken clandestinely by Roman Vishniac

Pre-war photograph of the entrance of the Krakow ghetto

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In the catalog accompanying these photographs, Vishniac described "The ghetto was built by Casimir the Great. He considered the Jews an unclean people and wanted them separated from the rest of the city. The ghetto was built more than six hundred years ago and it still existed when I came to record the life of the Jews. Cracow was a large and important community and the ghetto was still intact from olden times. The Jews who lived in the ancient ghetto were so interested in life, in the life around them and in nature. It is touching to see the little peace dove, the white bird in the cage which was a symbol of the ghetto. But the later ghettos, the ghettos of Hitler, were factories of death. Of the 60,000 original Jews only a handful survived in the Cracow ghetto." Original created by Roman Vishniac (donor's father), 1938, Krakow, Poland. Reproduced from original negative by Witkin-Berley Limited, 1977, Roslyn Heights, New York.

Pre-war photograph of Jew taken clandestinely by Roman Vishniac

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In the catalog accompanying these photographs, Vishniac described "The Jewish people received the holy Book. They carried books with them when they walked in the streets. They learned, they studied, they discussed. Books became the spiritual food of the Jews. Boys of thirteen could read and write while ninety percent of the non-Jews were illiterate." Original created by Roman Vishniac (donor's father), 1938, Warsaw, Poland. Reproduced from original negative by Witkin-Berley Limited, 1977, Roslyn Heights, New York.

Pre-war photograph of Jew taken clandestinely by Roman Vishniac

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In the catalog which accompanies this photograph, Vishniac explained "As peddlers they could sell a few things, second-hand goods from which they could make a meager living. But not any more, for the boycott killed all possibilities of making their income by selling. So they were sitting and waiting and hoping. And I was with them. I wanted to photograph a kind of soul giving something to beggars. I was waiting the whole day, but the beggars did not get a little coin, and I did not get my picture." Original created by Roman Vishniac, 1938. Reproduced from original negative by Witkin-Berley Limited, 1977, Roslyn Heights, New York.

Pre-war photograph of Jew taken clandestinely by Roman Vishniac

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In the catalog that accompanies this photograph, Vishniac explained "The grandfather was a wise man with long experience in suffering, but he could not give any advice, any help, to his granddaughter. She was young and strong and able to work. But the boycott destroyed all possibilities. Because she was Jewish her knowledge of typing in good Polish would not help." Original created by Roman Vishniac, 1937, Lublin, Poland. Reproduced from original negative by Witkin-Berley Limited, 1977, Roslyn Heights, New York.

Pre-war photograph of Jew taken clandestinely by Roman Vishniac

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In the catalog accompanying this photograph, Vishniac explained "In a place in the Carpathian mountains which was far from any illumination by electricity, the only light that could be used to photograph this wise man was the open fire of burning wood. Professional photographers told me that I made a big mistake by not illuminating the dark side, and that I should be ashamed to show this picture. The future will decide." Original created by Roman Vishniac, 1938, Carpathian Ruthenia, USSR. Reproduced from original negative by Witkin-Berley Limited, 1977, Roslyn Heights, New York.

Pre-war photograph of Jew taken clandestinely by Roman Vishniac

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In the catalog accompanying this photograph, Vishniac explained "The peasants were all so uneducated that you could not speak with them about anything. Their interest was just vodka; only achohol to drink. But a Jewish peasant-he was a wise man who knew about life, without having a radio or newspaper or any information, nothing but his own thought and understanding. And this made his most interesting for all discussions. He asked me if a danger existed and if Hitler's police would come, arrest him, and send him to death. I feared this, too, but could not advise him. There was no place to go. The whole world was closed and nobody was interested in saving the Jews." Original created by Roman Vishniac, 1937, Carpatho-Ukraine, USSR. Reproduced from original negative by Witkin-Berley Limited, 1977, Roslyn Heights, New York.

Pre-war photograph of Jewish school taken clandestinely

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In the catalog accompanying the photograph, Vishniac explained "In Slonim, the teacher used the only medium, the only tool that works: firendship and love. And he was very successful in this." The term "Heder" literally translated means "room." However, in eastern European countries, it was the education a boy would receive until Bar Mitzvah (age 13). Original created by Roman Vishniac, 1938, Russia. Reproduced from original negative by Witkin-Berley Limited, 1977, Roslyn Heights, New York.

Pre-war photograph of Jews taken clandestinely by Roman Vishniac

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According to the catalog accompanying the photograph, Vishniac explained "In the little village in Carpathian Ruthenia, where such little biys studied in a tiny school, the teacher was not paid in money. He would get a little milk from one student. Another student would bring some wood to make a fire. A third would bring him a potato. But all this payment was not enough, not sufficient for his existence, for his wife and children." Original created by Roman Vishniac, 1938, Carpathian Ruthenia, USSR. Reproduced from original negative by Witkin-Berley Limited, 1977, Roslyn Heights, New York.

Pre-war photograph of Jew taken clandestinely by Roman Vishniac

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In the catalog that accompanies the photographs, Vishniac explained "The little girl had to stay in bed for seven months because she had no shoes. It would have been senseless to spend money for shoes. What could she earn to bring in to the family? It was better for her to stay in bed, not to catch a cold. Her father, who loved the little girl so much, used stencils to make the pictures on the wall. He painted flowers for her, the only flowers of her youth." Original created by Roman Vishniac (donor's father), 1938, Warsaw, Poland. Reproduced from original negative by Witkin-Berley Limited, 1977, Roslyn Heights, New York.

Pre-war photograph of Jew taken clandestinely by Roman Vishniac

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In the catalog which accompanies the portfolio, Vishniac explained "The basement was divided by wood boards into twenty-six living quarters. This apartment was the most expensive because a little light came from above. But when pedestrians walked on the pavement grating, even this room became dark. This man was working the whole day. The work made it impossible to breath because metal dust was everywhere." Original created by Roman Vishniac, 1936, Warsaw, Poland. Reproduced from original negative by Witkin-Berley Limited, 1977, Roslyn Heights, New York.

Pre-war photograph of Jew taken clandestinely by Roman Vishniac

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In the catalog accompanying the photograph, Vishniac explained "This place was made famous by the Gaon of Vilna, Elijah, who preached on these steps to the community two hundred years ago. At the time, when I came, forty years ago, it was still a place where everybody gathered. It was a place for everybody to come to speak and ask advice." Original created by Roman Vishniac, 1938, Vilna, Poland. Reproduced from original negative by Witkin-Berley Limited, 1977, Roslyn Heights, New York.

Portfolio cover

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