Rudolf Næss (1914 - 12 July 2003) was a Norwegian illustrator known for his "NN under SS" collection of water color illustrations, detailing various aspects of life as a Nacht und Nebel prisoner at Natzweiler-Struthof concentration camp during World War II. The collection of images is part of Norwegian legacy documents, established to preserve and highlight unique and irreplaceable documents. The register is also part of the UNESCO World Heritage List, and is owned and kept by the Norwegian National Library.[1] The images are also featured in the Night and Fog Prisoners exhibition at Arkivet Peace and Human Rights Center, an education and documentation center in Kristiansand.[2]

Biography

Rudolf was born in Kristiania, but moved to Bergen, Norway at age 14.[3] He worked as an illustrator, at times in the advertising industry. At age 29, he was arrested and imprisoned at Natzweiler. In 1945, he was rescued by the White Buses, a Swedish Red Cross Operation.[2] Back home, Næss obtained photographs and details about the camps, and combined this information with his own memories to produce an album of 39 watercolor images over the course of two years. This visual testimony detailing aspects of life as an NN prisoner is unique in how his experiences were not translated into words. Upon completion in 1947, Næss gave the pictures to the University Library of Oslo.[3]

He died in Bergen at the age of 88.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Næss, Rudolph. (1950). "Krigstrykk 2 Rudolf Næss: Album fra Natzweiler". Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  2. 1 2 Arkivet Peace and Human Rights Center. "Outdoor Exhibition: Night and Fog Prisoners". Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  3. 1 2 Lavold, Bente. (1 November 2018). "Album fra konsentrasjonsleirene Natzweiler og Dachau". Norwegian Digital Learning Arena. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  4. ↑ Death announcement, Bergens Tidende 23 July 2003
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