PITY THE CHILD

Greta was born from German-Jew immigrants who departed Europe in the late 1890’s bound for Sydney. In 1905 both Greta’s parents died from the Bubonic plague, leaving her at just five years old, and an only child, to fend for herself on the streets. At seventeen Greta befriended Davin Noam Ziv, a young Polish-Jew immigrant and became pregnant with their child, born on 5 September 1917. Davin died in 1920 from the Spanish influenza forcing Greta into pickpocketing and petty thievery to support her young daughter, Esther. On 12 February 1926, Greta was accused of breaking and entering and stealing estate jewellery. She was sentenced to thirteen years in prison. Greta never saw Esther again.

Saskia Burmeister (alias Greta) 12 February 1926, Parramatta Police Station. 

Pity the Child, 2010
Lambda (C-type) photographic print on Fuji Crystal Archive Lustre
Matte black gator board edge unframed
120cm (w) x 60cm (h) x 2cm (d), 2kgs
Limited Edition