Moving to Paris in 1910 at age 19, the Kraków-born artist Moïse Kisling established himself within the Parisian avant-garde movement known as the School of Paris. His career spanned several decades of significant geopolitical upheaval, during which he gained recognition for his specific approach to portraits and the depiction of the female form.
Early Education and Migration
Born in Kraków on 22 January 1891 to Jewish parents, Kisling pursued formal artistic training at the Academy of Fine Arts in his hometown under the instruction of Jozef Pankiewicz. Following encouragement from his teachers to seek opportunities in the international center of creative activity, he relocated to the Montmartre district of Paris. By 1913, he had moved his residence and studio to Rue Joseph-Bara in the Montparnasse area, where he lived alongside fellow artists Jules Pascin, Léopold Zborowski, and Amedeo Modigliani.
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At the onset of World War I, Kisling volunteered for the French Foreign Legion. He sustained serious injuries during the 1916 Battle of the Somme. Following his wartime service, he became a French national through naturalization in 1924. Following the surrender of the French Army, he fled to the United States to avoid the rising threat to Jewish populations in occupied France.
Exile and Later Years
While residing in the United States, Kisling settled in Southern California and exhibited his works in New York City and Washington. His California years, which included a residence near the writer Aldous Huxley, lasted until 1946. Upon the defeat of Nazi Germany, he returned to France. He continued his creative practice in the post-war period until he died on 29 April 1953 at his home in Sanary-sur-Mer following a brief illness.
Fast facts
- Born: 22 January 1891, Kraków
- Died: 29 April 1953, Sanary-sur-Mer
- Citizenship: Polish, French
- Movement: School of Paris
- Military service: French Foreign Legion
- Burial site: La Guicharde Cemetery
Questions readers ask
Where can the public view his work today?
His paintings are held by various international institutions, including the British Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Harvard Art Museums, and the Israel Museum.
Was he known for a specific artistic subject?
He earned widespread acclaim for his portraits and his approach to depicting the female body, often producing erotic art and surreal nudes.
Achievements
- Movement: School of Paris
