Artist. He became known for his portraits of working-class people, still lifes, and landscapes. His visual style is marked by bold colors, twisted forms, loose handling of paint, and rough textures. Although he identified with no particular school, critics have labeled Soutine an Expressionist because of his turbulent, subjective approach. His paintings include "Sinister Street" (1921), "The Pastry Chef" (1923), "The Beef Carcass" (1925), and "Winding Road" (1939). Soutine was born in Smilavichi, Lithuania, the 10th child of a poor tailor. He moved to Paris in 1911 and settled in the Montparnasse district, where his friends included Amedeo Modigliani. After years of poverty Soutine suddenly became famous in 1923 when Paul Barnes, a wealthy American collector, bought 60 of his paintings at once. He destroyed many more of his canvases in fits of depression and did not hold a major exhibition until 1927. As a Jew during the Nazi occupation of France Soutine was forced to go into hiding, and he died of a perforated ulcer because he could not get proper medical attention in time. His gentile mistress had him buried in a Christian grave at Montparnasse Cemetery to avoid suspicion. Today his paintings are worth millions.
Artist. He became known for his portraits of working-class people, still lifes, and landscapes. His visual style is marked by bold colors, twisted forms, loose handling of paint, and rough textures. Although he identified with no particular school, critics have labeled Soutine an Expressionist because of his turbulent, subjective approach. His paintings include "Sinister Street" (1921), "The Pastry Chef" (1923), "The Beef Carcass" (1925), and "Winding Road" (1939). Soutine was born in Smilavichi, Lithuania, the 10th child of a poor tailor. He moved to Paris in 1911 and settled in the Montparnasse district, where his friends included Amedeo Modigliani. After years of poverty Soutine suddenly became famous in 1923 when Paul Barnes, a wealthy American collector, bought 60 of his paintings at once. He destroyed many more of his canvases in fits of depression and did not hold a major exhibition until 1927. As a Jew during the Nazi occupation of France Soutine was forced to go into hiding, and he died of a perforated ulcer because he could not get proper medical attention in time. His gentile mistress had him buried in a Christian grave at Montparnasse Cemetery to avoid suspicion. Today his paintings are worth millions.
Bio by: Bobb Edwards
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