Gerta is a fictional account of a young woman’s experience during the expulsion of Sudeten Germans amid the Brno death march in 1945. The main character, Gerta, is half Czech and half German, but is forced to leave with her child born out of terrible circumstances.

As with any sensitive topic, the challenge is to find visuals that inspire. I chose to focus on Gerta herself and also to hint at a sense of place.

The first round of comps ranges from bolder, more expressive hand drawn lettering to quieter comps showing mother and child.