Chaïm Soutine produced approximately 200 canvases between 1920 and 1922 during his residence in the Pyrénées-Orientales. This period marked a transition in his methodology, as he moved away from hesitant compositions toward a style defined by internal pressure and the extreme deformation of landscapes and portraits, cementing his role within the broader Expressionist movement of the twentieth century.
Early Formation and Relocation
Born in 1893 in Smilavičy, within the Minsk Governorate of the Russian Empire, Soutine moved to Vilnius in 1910 to attend a small art academy. By 1913, he emigrated to Paris. He enrolled at the École des Beaux-Arts, where he studied under Fernand Cormon. Early in his Parisian career, he faced significant financial hardship, occasionally residing at the La Ruche commune in the 15th arrondissement, a site populated by international artists.
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Soutine frequently visited the Louvre, where he studied the works of Rembrandt, Chardin, Courbet, and Goya. He gained proficiency in the French language while frequenting La Rotonde. Throughout the First World War, his living arrangements remained unstable until he received support from the art dealer Léopold Zborowski. This professional relationship eventually facilitated his move to the south of France to avoid the threat of a German invasion.
The 1923 Breakthrough
The trajectory of Soutine's career shifted significantly in 1923 when the American collector Albert C. Barnes purchased 60 of his paintings in a single transaction. Arranged by dealer Paul Guillaume, the influx of capital allowed Soutine to pursue his practice with newfound autonomy. He spent his later years working in various locations, including Cagnes-sur-Mer, Chartres, and Le Blanc.
Methodology and Legacy
Critics such as Élie Faure identified Soutine as a religious painter, noting the carnal quality of his material. His technique involved a rigorous physical commitment, sometimes walking twenty kilometers to find specific subjects before working on canvases with extreme intensity. Soutine died in the 16th arrondissement of Paris in 1943. He is buried at the Montparnasse Cemetery.
Fast facts
- Born: 1893, Smilavičy
- Died: 1943, 16th arrondissement of Paris
- Movement: Expressionism
- Education: École des Beaux-Arts
- Citizenship: France; Russian Empire
- Burial site: Montparnasse Cemetery
Questions readers ask
Where did Soutine live during his time in France?
He resided in multiple locations, including Paris, Céret, Cagnes-sur-Mer, Vence, Chartres, and Le Blanc.
What subjects did Soutine often paint?
He produced portraits, including depictions of pastry chefs and café boys, as well as landscapes characterized by rotary movement and physical deformation.
Achievements
- Movement: Expressionism
