Born into a Jewish and Polish family in 1908, Julia Pirotte quickly distinguished herself by her committed activities. The artist and resistance fighter is at the heart of the Shoah Memorial 's exhibition: Julia Pirotte, photographer and resistance fighter. Many original photographs are presented from March 9 to August 30, 2023, in this exhibition open to all free of charge.
More than sixty original photographs and prints, newspaper articles , letters and official documents, and video archives tell us the story of this extraordinary figure, who worked during the Second World War and the post-war period.
At a very young age, Julia Pirotte already showed her compassion and commitment to the most disadvantaged: at the age of 17, she was imprisoned for four years for her communist activities. She then took refuge in Belgium, where she discovered photography. Following the advance of the Nazi army in Europe, Julia Pirotte was forced to flee. Arriving in Marseille, the photographer had the opportunity to work for the newspaper Dimanche illustré, while shedding light on disadvantaged people.
With her pictures, Julia Pirotte shows us those who are forgotten in the shadows: the precarious inhabitants of the Old Port, the Jewish women and children of the Bompard camp, the Resistance fighters who are fighting for the liberation of France... The artist in turn joined the Resistance, working to transport weapons and leaflets. In the summer of 1944, she was able to combine her convictions with her work, immortalizing the liberation of Marseille.
After the war, Julia Pirotte continued her mission as an observer, taking a critical look at a Poland that was being rebuilt, but still distorted by strong anti-Semitism.
The exhibition reveals the duality, the two aspects that characterize this woman and her work. On the one hand, we find very elaborate portraits of artists, intellectuals but also common people who cross her path. On the other hand, we can see the photographs taken on the spot, the strong moments of these conflicts and wars that Julia Pirotte has crossed.
The exhibition at the Shoah Memorial highlights the life and work of this woman who was a fighter and committed to serving the most disadvantaged. One can admire many original and contemporary prints of Julia Pirotte, while discovering the amazing career of this photographer who put her art at the service of her political and social ideals.
Dates and Opening Time
From March 9th, 2023 to August 30th, 2023
Location
Shoah Memorial
17 rue geoffroy l´ asnier
75004 Paris 4
Prices
Free
Official website
billetterie.memorialdelashoah.org
