Holocaust Art: "It Takes But One" by Elizabeth Denholm and Alyssa Dziurlaj

What visual techniques are employed in this painting?

Contrast, font use, Chiaroscuro, symbolism, the use of fore, middle and back ground, facial expressions, mood, colour, and symbols. 

How do these visual techniques highlight major thematic elements of holocaust art and literature?

Through the use of contrast, moods and colors, the picture is separated into two main sections - the red and the black. These colors are symbolic to the holocaust and specifically symbolise the mistreatment and persecution of the Jews from Nazi Germany. Color is also used to highlight another important theme of the Holocaust - Ignorance and the power of the voice. The text "it takes but one" highlights the state of mind of Germany during the Holocaust that Germans as well as Jews were to scared to speak up about the atrocities that were being taken place all of Europe - the gasing and killing of millions of Jews. The mood is dark and depressing and creates an allusion of hope and deviance from the Jews. This is represented by the dark paint that is seeping into the red paint that is defining the aggressive Nazi oppressors that is represented by the red. 


Through the use of facial expressions the painting also highlights another key theme of the holocaust, the mistreatment of the Jews and the loss of humanity on the part of the Germans. This is represented by the the star of david (Symbol of Judaism) because it is being 'held' by the Germans, and the fact that the Germans saw the Jews as not being 'people' so the picture also corresponds with this. 


Also by using fore/middle/ and back grounds its further supports the theme of the inhumanity and degrading of Jews. This is represented by having the Jews in the back ground, in a place deserved of anyone who doesn't belong to the master race of germany (in the Nazi's eyes). And also by the fact that the red paints or Germans are place in the forgound - a place only deserved for the master race.