Chaïm Soutine
Chaïm Soutine (French: Chaïm Soutine, Yiddish: חיים סוטין, Belarusian: Хайм Суцін; birth name — Chaim Solomonovich Soutine, Yiddish חיים סאלאמאנאוויטש סוטין, Belarusian: Хайм Саламанавіч Суцін; 13 January 1893, Smilavichy, Minsk Governorate, Russian Empire — 9 August 1943, 16th arrondissement of Paris, France under Nazi occupation) was a Belarusian-French painter of Jewish origin. One of the leading artists of the "École de Paris" (Paris School).
Childhood and Youth
Chaïm (Shlomo) Soutine was born into an Orthodox Jewish family. His parents opposed his passion for painting, but he showed extraordinary talent from an early age. At 16, he entered the Vilna School of Art, where he began to develop his unique artistic vision.
Early Career
In 1910, Soutine moved to Saint Petersburg to study at the Imperial School of Sacred Art at the Trinity Lavra, followed by the Academy of Arts. His works were marked by unusual emotionality, dramatic coloring, and expressive brushwork — even then, he defied academic canons.
French Period
In 1913, Soutine moved to Paris, becoming part of the famous “École de Paris”. He lived in poverty, working in restaurants and posing for other artists.
From 1915, he studied at Académie Julian, where his works began to attract attention.
He often worked with unconventional subjects — animal carcasses, dead birds, old garments — all became vessels for his inner drama on canvas.
His style combined elements of Expressionism and Fauvism, with vivid colors, distorted forms, and deep emotional tension.
Exhibitions and Recognition
His first success came in 1923, when American doctor Albert C. Barnes bought several of his paintings. This allowed Soutine to stabilize financially and focus on his art. The same year saw his first solo exhibition at Galerie Lefevre, which received critical acclaim.
By 1927, he had become one of the most discussed European painters. He participated in international exhibitions, including those at Galerie Berthe Weill and Galerie Mané-Katzen.
His works resonated with collectors and artists alike. Painters such as Jackson Pollock and Francis Bacon cited him as an influence. He also played a key role in shaping Abstract Expressionism in the United States.
Last Years and Death
During World War II, as a Jew, Soutine lived in hiding from the Nazis. He changed addresses constantly, living in fear. Due to a stomach illness and lack of proper medical care, his health deteriorated. On August 1, 1943, Soutine died in a Paris clinic at the age of 49, just two days before the liberation of Paris.
Legacy
Interest in his work grew after the war. Today, his paintings are housed in major museums around the world, including MoMA (New York), Centre Pompidou (Paris), and Tate Modern (London). Prices for his works reach $34 million or more, making him one of the most valuable figures of European modernism.
Chaïm Soutine – gallery of masterpieces
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