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The Watercolours of Drancy
Available in the Documentation Centre
History of the gift
 In November 1983, the niece of Jane Levy donated four watercolours painted by her aunt during her internment in Drancy. We knew, however, that there were others because they had appeared as illustrations in the testimony of Julie Cremieux-Dunand, which was published in 1945. She had also been interned in Drancy, but was released. In spite of our research, it was not possible to find the missing watercolours or information on the way in which they left the camp.
Jane Levy, Drancy, May 3, 1943
 By fortunate coincidence, after a few weeks, Mr. Robert Cohen informed us that he had found one of Jane Levy’s watercolours and he wished to donate it to the Memorial.
We express our sincere gratitude to him for his generosity.
Jane Levy, Drancy June 13, 1943
Jane Levy
Biography
Jane Levy was born on September 28, 1894 in Paris to a traditional Jewish family of Alsatian origins.
At a young age she was noticed for her drafting talents.
At 18 she entered the school of Decorative Arts and studied painting, pastels and poster paint through which she expressed many feelings.
She was also interested in ceramics, which became her area of expertise and facilitated the full blossoming of her artistic talent. She produced many works at the Manufacture de Sèvres.
In 1922, she went to Worms in order to paint a synagogue. Afterward, she travelled to Palestine in 1934 for an exposition of the Pavillon de Sèvres and exhibited her work at the international fair in Tel-Aviv.
At the beginning of her career, the new director of the Manufacture de Sèvres dismissed Levy because she was Jewish.
Arrested on November 27, 1942, she was imprisoned at the French prison, la Santé, and transferred to Drancy where she worked for a short time as an illustrator, creating drawings and posters of life in the camp.
July 31, 1943, she was deported from Drancy with her brother to Auschwitz.
Jane Levy, Drancy April 25, 1943
Jane Levy, Drancy May 10, 1943
Jane Levy, Drancy June 3, 1943
Within the framework of creating an exhibition about the Drancy camp, the Memorial seeks any type of archival documents, objects, or photographs relating to the history of the camp and the internees.
For all document donations, a staff member is available every Tuesday afternoon from 2:30 pm until 5:30 pm, without prior appointment.
Information:
Tel: 01 42 77 44 72
More on the collection campaign of the CDJC
Send an email to the archive department
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Very recently, the Memorial received archival documents belonging to Mr. Leon Grunman, a deportee from Drancy to Auschwitz in 1942.
Leon Grunman, from his given name Lieba Grunman, was born on March 28, 1895 in Warsaw, Poland. 
