Chaïm Soutine

January 13, 1893 (Smilavichy, Belarus) – August 9, 1943 (Paris, France)

Chaim Soutine was an Expressionist painter of Jewish origin born in the Russian Empire and an important figure of the School of Paris. He was born into a modest family and from a young age he showed an interest in art, although his vocation met resistance in his religious environment. After studying at the art school in Vilna, he moved in 1913 to Paris, where he became part of the city’s artistic scene.

In Paris he settled in La Ruche, a well-known complex of studios where many foreign artists lived and worked. There he became friends with painters such as Amedeo Modigliani, who supported him during his early years. During this period Soutine developed a deeply expressive style characterized by intense brushwork, distorted forms, and vibrant colors. His subjects included landscapes, portraits, and still lifes, through which he conveyed strong emotional intensity.

International recognition came in the 1920s when the American collector Albert C. Barnes purchased a large number of his works for the Barnes Foundation. This event transformed his career, giving him financial stability and greater visibility in the art world. During these years he painted some of his most famous works, including turbulent landscapes, portraits of workers, and his well-known still lifes featuring animals.

During the II World War, because of his Jewish origin, Soutine was forced to hide in various regions of France to avoid Nazi persecution. Despite these difficult circumstances, he continued painting whenever possible. However, his health deteriorated severely due to a stomach ulcer. He passed away after being urgently transported from his hiding place for surgery. Today he is considered one of the great Expressionist painters of the 20th century, admired for the emotional intensity of his work and his powerful distortion of form. His paintings are preserved in major museums such as the Museum of Modern Art (New York), the Centre Pompidou, and the Barnes Foundation, where they continue to be studied and admired.