For A Crust Of Bread By David Olere

David Olere was more than an artist, in my opinion, he was truly a hero. He ventured to do what no one else was able to do. He dedicated his artistic career to uncover what events actually took place in the German death camps during WWII. The world is grateful to him because such gruelly and horrific depictions really teaches us to remember. The day we forgot all those unfortunate people is the day they truly die, and the day history shall repeat itself.
In David’s “For a Crust of Bread” we see a painting of David himself. He is being watched like a Hawk by two German soldiers, yet they do not harm him. He appeared to be painting propaganda for his oppressors, in hope they will reward him with food. This painting is in only black and white, alike the rest of the painting that include himself in them. This painting is very important because it really illustrates how desperate inmates were, and how willing they were just to get ahead in any way possible. I believe this painting is important because it gives its audience a real look at the conscious of those incarcerated at these death camps, it shows true situations they faced.
Next, in Olere’s “Working in the Tunnel in Melk” we see another painting David has included himself in.
It is, of course, black and white, alike the other ones. This theme represents David's feelings, I believe all his self included pieces have no color because he wanted to express how these experiences made him numb. They drained him off all his life; all his color, and he is only one of millions who faced the same thing. The artist’s main message in this painting is that they can never escape work and punishment. If there was work in the camps, it was done; if there was work outside of the camps in the local tunnel systems, it was done. The inmates could never escape the grueling labor, or the punishing
soldiers.
This last painting “Their Last Steps” is very horrific. This picture is in some color, yet all the colors used are dark, representing death and sorrow. This painting shows three inmates slowly walking to a fiery death in the crematoria. They hold on to each other for physical and moral support, they're aware of their fate and make peace with it. This piece teaches us about death and to never forget this torturous place. Even more devastating is the fact that normal people, inmates had to clean up the remains of their peers. They sat there and witnessed countless murders, and they had to live with that for the remainder of their lives. This painting teaches us of the true evil that happened in the WWII death camps.
David Olere reached out a little further than anyone, to really uncover the true of the German Final Solution. We can look at these art pieces and be touched, inspired, disgusted, and many more. Olere was not an artist, but a hero and a man who really did make a difference. His work shall remain in history and prove as an example to the whole world. I learned that we all need to venture further and do the right there. Integrity is a huge character trait many lack today, and we need to work hard to reclaim it. I also learned about the power of a memory, and that nothing can ever die as long as it lives in your heart and mind.