Showing posts with label #Holocaust. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #Holocaust. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 4, 2018

Forgotten Women - Madame d'Ora Part Two



Madame d’Ora - Part Two
Nicola McDonagh
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Pinterest
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In my previous post, you can view it here: I talked about Dora Kallmus, a forgotten pioneer in the world of early photography. Today I will continue her amazing story.  

Dora’s studio in Vienna, Atelier d’Ora, was an instant success and helped  to secure her position as The Photographer of a new millennium. Her daring poses and unusual subjects, such as exotic dancers and revealing self portraits, gained her a reputation for taking risks. Exactly what her famous clients craved. 

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But Dora was ambitious and wanted to attract a wider clientele. So in 1925 she and her assistant Arthur Benda, opened a studio in Paris. Although it was a success, Benda preferred his life in Vienna and returned, taking over her studio and renaming it d’Ora-Benda-Wien. His actions caused a rift between them and they never spoke again.

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Loosing her technical assistant did not deter Dora, and she carried on with her fashion photography and portraits of stars in theatre and the silver screen. But things were about to change for Madame d’Ora.

Firstly, when the National Socialists gained power in Germany in 1933. Unfortunately for Dora, the fashion industry collapsed and magazines that featured her photographs were reprimanded for doing so and she was no longer able to show her work in this way.

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Second, was the German invasion of France in 1940. Dora, despite converting to Christianity, was still a Jew and was forced to sell her Parisian studio. For much of the second world war, Dora went into hiding in such places as a cloister in La Lanvese, southern France, finally relocating to Austria in 1945. Although Dora survived, the rest of her family were not so fortunate and were killed in the holocaust. 

The tragedy of the war weighed heavily upon Dora. Her photography changed drastically. She turned her talents to photographing the horrors of the aftermath of survivors from concentration camps. She began a series of documentary photographs capturing the misery of refugees fleeing to Austria. Dora continued to be involved in the fashion industry, but her interests seemed to switch from glamorous photo shoots to dark representations of the horrors of the casualties of war and oppression.

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Her disturbing series of images from 1950 to 58, when she was now in her seventies, captures the gruesome and terrifying plight of animals sent to slaughter. She vividly captures the brutality of the slaughterhouses in Paris and in doing so, the inhumanity of her fellow man. Perhaps a reflection of what she saw in the concentration camps a decade earlier.

Please visit my Pinterest site to view Dora’s photographs taken in the Parisian abbatoir. I chose not to put them here as some people may find the images too distressing.

When Dora was knocked down by a motorcycle in 1959, she returned to her family home in Frohnleiten Austria that had been sold under the Nazi rule, but then returned to her. Her injuries from the accident meant that she lost most of her memories and could no longer use a camera. She died October 28, 1963 at the age of seventy-six.

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Dora Kallmus's legacy lives on in her outstanding photographic works of art. She was a pioneer in the field of photography and should be remembered for her daring and unique style that brought her fame, fortune, and a passion for pushing the boundaries of the photographic image that influenced many future practitioners in the field.

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In fact, I liked Dora so much that she is now a character in my new crime mystery book set in 1899 Vienna. Here is a snippet from this work in progress that includes my interpretation of what a young and eager Dora Kallmus might have been like:

I tapped the counter. ‘If you have quite finished your argument? May I take what you have slaved over?’

‘Apologies. She irritates me that is all.’ 

Dora snorted. ‘Afraid of a little competition, well, you won’t get far.’

‘Oh, you see what I have to put with?’

‘I do indeed. Get used to it, Ralph, woman are getting stronger. They’ll be taking over everything.’

‘And making a better job of it too.’

‘Well said, Dora.’

‘Herr Katz, solidarity, please.’

Dora grinned. ‘I like you Herr Katz. Finally, a man who isn’t afraid of  a strong woman.’

‘Even though she is young and precocious?’ Ralph narrowed his eyes and shook his head. ‘I swear she’ll be the owner of this place in a couple of years.’

‘This place?’ Dora laughed. ‘Not good enough. I intend to open my own studio. Bigger and better than this male orientated stiff-necked, old-fashioned emporium.’

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Thank you for reading my post. If you would like to know more about my work please visit my

All photos taken from Pinterest


If you enjoyed reading this post you might like to have a look at more. Just click on the link:
https://asmallgangofauthors.blogspot.com/p/2018-gallery.html


COMMENTS

Ruth de Jauregui via Google+

4 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Nicola McDonagh shares the rest of photographer Madame d'Ora's long career, including her experiences during WWII. She survived, but her family didn't. Check her out at #OurAuthorGang.
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Ruth de Jauregui

4 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
What a wonderful and tragic story. Thank you for sharing her with us.
 
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Rebecca Tran

4 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
I love this series Nikki. You always find the most interesting people.
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Thanks Rebecca.

Rebecca Tran

4 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Nikki Mcdonough reminds the world of a famous female photographer Dora Kallmus on #OurAuthorGang  
 
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Joe Bonadonna via Google+

4 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Today on #OurAuthorGang, author Nikki McDonagh​ scores again with part of her fascinating look at Dora Kallmus - a pioneer in early photography.
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Joe Bonadonna

4 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Nikki, you score again with more fascinating insight into the life and times of Dora Kallmus.
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Joanne Jaytanie via Google+

4 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Discover the women in history. #OurGangAuthor
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Joanne Jaytanie

4 months ago (edited)  -  Shared publicly
 
I really enjoy reading about women in history.
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Chris Weigand via Google+

4 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Learn more about this courageous woman with Nicola McDonagh
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Chris Weigand

4 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
What a fascinating and courageous woman.
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Nikki McDonagh via Google+

4 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Check out my post about an amazing forgotten female photographer.
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Grace Au

4 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
What a fascinating lady! I loved the old photos. Thanks for sharing.
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Thank you Grace.

Cindy Smith via Google+

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Lorraine Carey via Google+

4 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Madame d'Ora was a woman on the cutting edge and years ahead of her time in the world of photography. Not many know her story! Check this out. #powerwomen #phototgraphy#bloghttps://asmallgangofauthors.blogspot.com/2018/09/forgotten-women-madame-dora-part-two.html#gpluscomments
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Cindy Smith

4 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
What an informative piece!  Dora certainly was a very talented woman, sad her family was lost in the war. The pictures you shared are amazing and I loved the snippet.
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Thank you Cindy. Yes Dora was amazing, so pleased you enjoyed the post.

Toi Thomas

4 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
What an amazing life and legacy. Thank you for sharing her story.
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She was a very interesting character that's for sure.

Toi Thomas via Google+

4 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Today, Nikki McDonagh​ concludes the wonderful and tragic life and times of pioneer photographer Madame d’Ora. #OurAuthorGang.
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Lorraine Carey

4 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
I just adore this woman! I could see why you have made her a character. Here's to Wonder Woman such as Dora Kallmus. Thank you for bringing her story to light.
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View all 4 replies
 
+Lorraine Carey Oh, thank you Lorraine.
 
+Nikki McDonagh You are most welcome. xx

Erika M Szabo via Google+

4 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
She pushed the boundaries and succeeded!
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She certainly did.

Erika M Szabo

4 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
She really pushed the boundaries and succeeded!

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