Watercolours – A Story from Auschwitz

Dina Gottliebova-Babbitt, a Czechoslovakian Jew imprisoned at Auschwitz, used her artistic talent to survive. This narrative explores her experiences, struggles for her artwork, and broader themes of memory and trauma.

Watercolours – A Story from Auschwitz tells the poignant tale of Dina Gottliebova-Babbitt, a Czechoslovakian Jew who survived the horrors of Auschwitz through her artistic talent. Born in 1923, Dina found herself imprisoned in the notorious concentration camp, where her skills as an artist became her lifeline. She painted whimsical scenes from Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs on the walls of the children's barracks, a stark contrast to the grim reality surrounding her. Her artistry caught the attention of the infamous Josef Mengele, who then commissioned her to create watercolor portraits of Roma prisoners.

After the war, Dina's journey continued in the realm of animation, where she worked for Warner Brothers and eventually married Art Babbitt, a fellow animator associated with Walt Disney. Despite her successful career in animation, the memories of her time in Auschwitz remained deeply ingrained in her life. Years later, her paintings created during her imprisonment were recovered and displayed at the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum. However, when she sought the return of her works, her request was met with refusal, leading to a significant international dispute that involved both the American and Polish governments.

Journalist Lidia Ostalowska meticulously reconstructs Dina's experiences in Auschwitz, exploring broader themes of historical memory, trauma, and the complex dynamics between oppressor and victim. By drawing on numerous accounts from the camp, Ostalowska highlights the extraordinary resilience of one woman's spirit amid unimaginable suffering, making Watercolours a compelling narrative of survival and the enduring power of art.