27.01.1925–14.07.2009
Vera Fischer
Vera Fischer (1925–2009) was born into a Jewish family in Zagreb, was interned during the war in Italian-run camps on Rab and at Kupari, and graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb in 1951. She first showed her work in 1952 and in 2002 held an autobiographical exhibition at the Glyptotheque of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts. She also made collages in the 1960s and photographs in the 1970s.
Biography
Vera Fischer opened her “Autobiographical Exhibition” in 2002, when she was seventy-seven. It was housed in a hall of the Glyptotheque of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts in Zagreb.
She was born in Zagreb on 27 January 1925 into a Jewish family. Her father worked at the Paromlin mill in Zagreb, and at first the family lived in the workers’ buildings attached to it. Fischer later said that her birthplace stayed with her forever, although she lived there only briefly. Her father died when she was a year old. She was raised by her mother, Latica, née Klein, and by her grandparents.
During the Second World War she was interned, as a Jew, in camps on the island of Rab and at Kupari, which were under Italian administration. After Italy capitulated, she joined the National Liberation Movement in Croatia.
After the war Fischer studied at the Academy of Fine Arts of the University of Zagreb under Professor Vanja Raduš. She graduated in 1951. Soon after finishing, it is reported, she moved away from strict academic style and turned to pop sculpture. I would treat that wording with caution: I do not know of any specific works from that time. Her first public appearance came in 1952 at the 8th exhibition of the Croatian Association of Artists (ULUH) in Zagreb. In the same year she joined the association and remained a member. A solo exhibition at the association’s salon took place in Zagreb in 1961 or 1962; the exact date is unclear. She also took part in many group and solo shows in Croatia and abroad. Sculpture is not the only notable part of her legacy. Her collages of the 1960s and her photographs of the 1970s, taken on trips to New York, earned her a place in the book “Women Photographers in Croatia”. Little is known about her sculptural works as such; one of them, by description, shows a cross and a Star of David carved together, with the star placed where the heart would be. The work is connected with her involvement in the movement to bring Christianity and Judaism closer together.
Fischer was an active member of the Jewish community of Zagreb. Through the World Conference of Religions for Peace she travelled widely, taking part in that work.
In 1997 the President of Croatia, Franjo Tuđman, awarded her the Order of Danica Hrvatska with the image of Marko Marulić.
Vera Fischer died in Zagreb on 14 July 2009. She was buried at Mirogoj Cemetery.
Profile notes