June 2024 Portrait of the Month — Ita Grynbaum

Ita Grynbaum

June’s Portrait of the Month features Ita Grynbaum. It was created by Sophia H. at Calkins Road Middle School in Upstate New York in a class led by Stephanie Warchol. Mrs. Warchol has led her middle school students through several Memory Project Productions workshops and they continue to produce very beautiful and moving portraits.

This portrait of Ita Grynbaum captures both depth and emotion. The shadows and the light are used to show the shape of her face and the curve of her smile. Though Ita died of typhus in a forced labor camp at age 17, she looks happy in this portrait. It is a reminder to think of her as a person with a whole, albeit short life, who is defined by more than her tragic end.

View more portraits created by students at Calkins Road Middle School on their community page and learn more about Ita below.