Self-Portrait 1948

This Self-Portrait was created by Ilka Gedo, a Jewish artist living in Nazi Germany, in 1944 using charcoal on paper. In the portrait, Gedo’s gaze is cast downward. Her shoulders are slumped and the lines are deeply etched. The somber mood of this work reflects the artist's lived reality; Gedo made this self-portrait whilst in hiding from the Nazis. As a Jewish woman, her identity was both a source of persecution and resilience, informing her artistic practice and personal narrative. As Gedo said: “I sit here, doing nothing, and wait for what is going to happen. I am full of worry, which has become a chronic condition.” The emotional weight in this piece speaks to the anguish of displacement and the search for self amidst unimaginable adversity. Gedo’s unflinching gaze captures a moment of profound introspection while underscoring broader societal issues of prejudice, identity, and the human spirit.