Portrait of the Month
Gerard Horst Meyerfeld
January’s Portrait of the Month features a beautiful drawing of Gerard Horst Meyerfeld. It was created at the Galicia Jewish Museum in Kraków, which teaches about and honors Jewish life in Poland before the Holocaust. It was very moving to work with students in Poland as they learned about the history of the region through the lives of the people who once lived there. View pictures from some of the workshops.
Students around the world have reflected on the experience of drawing Gerard’s portrait:
“It made me feel like I did a good deed by honoring Gerard Horst Meyerfeld by creating a pastel portrait tribute to his life.” —Kaleb H.
“It felt good to spend so much time observing a photograph and then making art based on the photo. It also took a lot of time and you have to put shadow and light, and it was like putting together puzzles.” —Shipar M.
“I got to learn a lot about [Gerard] and I was actually feeling it.” — Marlee L.
Read Gerard’s story below and click here to view past Portrait of the Month selections
About the subject
Gerard Meyerfeld was born in Germany but moved to France as a young boy with his Aunt and Uncle to persecution. After his Uncle was sent to an internment camp, Gerard’s aunt sent him to work on a farm in hopes that they would protect and feed him. Later, he went to work with the Jewish Underground, and after liberation, he joined the French army. Gerard was eventually reunited with his parents, who had remained in Germany during the war. They immigrated to the United States, and Gerard remained in France. Remember and honor Gerard by viewing more portraits of him.
About the workshop
This portrait was made at the Galicia Jewish Museum in Krakow, Poland.