While some of them have not survived and were lost during the difficult post-war period, some remained intact but were relocated. Some of the works look different today than during the war as their polychromy has with time lost its intensity. Although unquestionably on high aesthetic value, it’s not their charm that makes these works unique, but the circumstances of their creation. For the prisoners of the German Nazi concentration camp at Majdanek though, it was the hidden messages embedded in these sculptures that proved the most important. Their underlying meanings of these artworks uplifted the spirits and gave the prisoners strength to cope with the overwhelming camp reality. Follow our series to discover more artworks created by the prisoners of Majdanek.

One of those unique sculptures was the Frog. It was a small, squab creature made of green-dyed concrete. Its black pupils accompanied by a reddish twinkle were surrounded by two yellow rings. The photo presents a post-war copy which, unlike the original piece, was made of plaster covered with paint in the tone of brass. Both were created by Albin Maria Boniecki - a graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw. During his imprisonment at Majdanek between January and September 1943, the sculptor wanted to use his skills to improve the conditions in the camp, and to lift up the spirits of the fellow inmates. In a witty way, Boniecki tricked an influential favourite of both the SS and the functionaries. He created The Frog and convinced them that, as an amphibian, it should be displayed by a water basin. In this way, Boniecki provided the prisoners of field III with a water source. Before that day, the inmates had had no access to any water supplies whatsoever. To wash their faces and hands, the prisoners had been forced to use a bit of the quarter litre of the so-called tea as it was the only liquid provided during the day. Boniecki’s trick bore fruits almost instantly. The basin was constructed and the frog sculpture was placed right at its banks. The Frog quickly became both an important symbol, but also an actual source of water.

In his plan, Albin Maria Boniecki was aided by his fellow inmate, Stanisław Zelent. Additionally, Zelent promoted the artist’s idea which resulted in the basins’ creation within all the prisoner fields of Majdanek.

The artist donated the plaster model to the State Museum at Majdanek in 1986.