Jardin des Plantes, Paris 1980

Ilka Gedo created "Jardin des Plantes, Paris," a piece that quietly resonates with the weight of her personal history. Born in Budapest in 1921, Gedo, a Jewish woman, faced unimaginable challenges during World War II. Confined to the Budapest ghetto and later deported to concentration camps, her art became an act of resistance. "Jardin des Plantes, Paris" is one of her many works created from memory after the war. In this piece, the botanical garden emerges as a dream-like apparition. The bold use of color invites contemplation, an act that defies the dehumanization she experienced during the war. Despite the absence of direct figures, there is a striking, emotional depth within this painting that reflects the strength of the artist, marking a poignant statement of survival and remembrance.