Salomon Garf

Salomon Garf (6 December 187927 August 1943) was a Dutch painter and graphic artist; known for his portraits and still lifes. He was murdered in the Holocaust.

Biography He was born to a family of diamond merchants and his father worked as a stockbroker. Rather than follow in the family business, he chose a career in art, studying at the "Institute for Applied Arts" (1892–1895), the "State Normal School for Applied Arts" (1895–1899) and the Rijksakademie (1899–1905), where he worked with August Allebé and Nicolaas van der Waay. In 1904, he entered the Prix de Rome with his depiction of the Raising of the son of the woman of Shunem, but the prize went to Jan Sluijters. He was a member of Arti et Amicitiae and, in 1933, was awarded their golden medal on behalf of Queen Wilhelmina.

In 1938, he became a member of Arti's Board of Directors, but was expelled from the organization in 1941, by orders of the German occupation command. He then became active in the Resistance, helping to forge false "Persoonsbewijzen" (Identity Cards). On August 6, 1943, he was arrested and sent to Auschwitz, by way of the Westerbork transit camp, and was murdered. His students managed to save the contents of his studio before they were confiscated.

Selected paintings