This exhibition shines a spotlight on a very different Europe in 1939 and the forced journeys made by many of Central Europe’s most distinguished, talented and pioneering artists, who escaped tyranny in search of artistic and personal freedoms.

Artists featured in this Curation: Arthur Segal (1875–1944), Ludwig Meidner (1884–1966), Chaïm Soutine (1893–1943), Jankel Adler (1895–1949), George Grosz (1893–1959), Arnold Daghani (1909–1985), Ernst Eisenmayer (1920–2018), Hugo Dachinger (1908–1995), Dora Holzhandler (1928–2015), Josef Herman (1911–2000), and 12 more
25 artworks
Storyline Album Showcase
Hafen, La Ciotat
Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

Hafen, La Ciotat 1929

Arthur Segal (1875–1944)

Oil on canvas

H 68.5 x W 88.3 cm

Ben Uri Collection

Portrait of a Girl
© the artist's estate. Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

Portrait of a Girl 1921

Ludwig Meidner (1884–1966)

Charcoal on paper

H 68 x W 50.5 cm

Ben Uri Collection

Jeune servante (Waiting Maid)
Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

Jeune servante (Waiting Maid) c.1933

Chaïm Soutine (1893–1943)

Oil on canvas

H 46.5 x W 40.5 cm

Ben Uri Collection

Mother and Child
Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

Mother and Child 1941

Jankel Adler (1895–1949)

Oil on canvas

H 78.1 x W 57.1 cm

Ben Uri Collection

Interrogation
© DACS 2024. Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

Interrogation 1938

George Grosz (1893–1959)

Watercolour & ink on paper

H 46 x W 59 cm

Ben Uri Collection

Caricature of Hitler
© Arnold Daghani Trust. Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

Caricature of Hitler 1978

Arnold Daghani (1909–1985)

Pen & ink on newspaper

H 54 x W 38 cm

Ben Uri Collection

Internment in Douglas
© the copyright holder. Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

Internment in Douglas 1940

Ernst Eisenmayer (1920–2018)

Watercolour, graphite, pen & ink on paper & board

H 30.3 x W 22.8 cm

Ben Uri Collection

Wilhelm Hollitscher (1873–1943)
© the copyright holder. Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

Wilhelm Hollitscher (1873–1943) 1940

Hugo Dachinger (1908–1995)

Watercolour & gouache on newspaper

H 61.5 x W 46 cm

Ben Uri Collection

My Grandfather in Auschwitz
© the artist's estate / Bridgeman Images. Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

My Grandfather in Auschwitz 1962

Dora Holzhandler (1928–2015)

Oil on canvas

H 125.5 x W 100 cm

Ben Uri Collection

Refugees
© estate of Josef Herman. All rights reserved, DACS 2024. Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

Refugees c.1941

Josef Herman (1911–2000)

Gouache on paper

H 47 x W 39.5 cm

Ben Uri Collection

Camp Guards and Inmates after Liberation
© the trustees of the estate of Feliks Topolski. Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

Camp Guards and Inmates after Liberation 1945

Feliks Topolski (1907–1989)

Print on butcher's paper

H 14.3 x W 19.2 cm

Ben Uri Collection

Apocalypse en Lilas, Capriccio
© ADAGP, Paris and DACS, London 2024. Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

Apocalypse en Lilas, Capriccio 1945

Marc Chagall (1887–1985)

Gouache, pencil, Indian wash & ink on paper

H 51 x W 35.5 cm

Ben Uri Collection

Self Portrait with Pipe
© the artist's estate. Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

Self Portrait with Pipe c.1950–1952

Henryk Gotlib (1890–1966)

Oil on canvas

H 44 x W 35 cm

Ben Uri Collection

Head
© the copyright holder. Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

Head c.1928–1934

Elisabeth Tomalin (1912–2012)

Gouache on paper

H 51 x W 36.1 cm

Ben Uri Collection

The Dance
© The Estate of Hans Feibusch / Bridgeman Images. Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

The Dance c.1950

Hans Feibusch (1898–1998)

Gouache on paper

H 48.5 x W 75 cm

Ben Uri Collection

Blue Grey Fishes
© the copyright holder. Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

Blue Grey Fishes

Jacob Bornfriend (1904–1976)

Oil on canvas

H 61.6 x W 49 cm

Ben Uri Collection

Study for 'Mornington Crescent, Summer Morning II'
© the artist. Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

Study for 'Mornington Crescent, Summer Morning II' 2004

Frank Helmuth Auerbach (b.1931)

Crayon on paper

H 21 x W 21 cm

Ben Uri Collection

Chungsen Chou
© The Estate of Elsa Fraenkel. Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

Chungsen Chou 1928

Elsa Fraenkel (1892–1975)

Bronze

H 36 x W 20.5 x D 55 cm

Ben Uri Collection

House in Normandy (or Varengeville)
© Martin Bloch Trust. Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

House in Normandy (or Varengeville) 1939

Martin Bloch (1883–1954)

Oil on canvas

H 63.5 x W 79.5 cm

Ben Uri Collection

Sennen
© the artist's estate. Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

Sennen 1960

Heinz Koppel (1919–1980)

Oil on canvas

H 61 x W 91 cm

Ben Uri Collection

In Winter, Manchester
© the artist's estate. Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

In Winter, Manchester

Harry Weinberger (1924–2009)

Oil on canvas

H 60 x W 90 cm

Ben Uri Collection

Svendborg Harbour, Denmark
© Martin Bloch Trust. Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

Svendborg Harbour, Denmark 1934

Martin Bloch (1883–1954)

Oil on canvas on board

H 69 x W 79 cm

Ben Uri Collection

Mornington Crescent – Summer Morning II
© the artist. Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

Mornington Crescent – Summer Morning II 2004

Frank Helmuth Auerbach (b.1931)

Oil on board

H 51.1 x W 51.1 cm

Ben Uri Collection

Study for 'In Memory of the Fighters for the Warsaw Ghetto'
© estate of Josef Herman. All rights reserved, DACS 2024. Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

Study for 'In Memory of the Fighters for the Warsaw Ghetto' 1986

Josef Herman (1911–2000)

Pen & ink & wash on paper

H 45.7 x W 40.7 cm

Ben Uri Collection

Für Frau Fränkel
Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

Für Frau Fränkel 1927

Kurt Schwitters (1887–1948)

Collage on paper

H 13.5 x W 9.3 cm

Ben Uri Collection

Explore artists in this Curation

View all 22
  • Black Snow
    Harry Weinberger (1924–2009)
  • JYM1
    Frank Helmuth Auerbach (b.1931)
  • Suicide (Selbstmörder)
    George Grosz (1893–1959)
  • Untitled (YMCA Official Flag Thank You)
    Kurt Schwitters (1887–1948)
  • Bullfight, Barcelona
    Heinz Koppel (1919–1980)
  • Miners Singing
    Josef Herman (1911–2000)
  • Head
    Elisabeth Tomalin (1912–2012)
  • Paul Hamann's Art Class
    Hugo Dachinger (1908–1995)
  • The Poet Reclining (Le Poète allongé)
    Marc Chagall (1887–1985)
  • Taormina, Sicily
    Hans Feibusch (1898–1998)
  • View all 22
View all