The Three Of Arts:
Modigliani, Soutine, Pissarro
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nter just about any home Lunch often would consist of a of whom only two photographs
of a Jewish art collector cup of tea sweetened with a slice are extant.
and you're certain to see at of apple, because sugar was too
Pregnant with Modigliani's
least one Chagall with its expensive. Inspired by African child, Jeanne Hebuterne threw
familiar goats, rabbis and Russ- sculpture, Modigliani painted herself out the window when she
ian villages.
figures with sleek, long lines. learned of her beloved's death.
Or if it's a modernist you're His favorite subjects were
Modigliani had in his lifetime
catching up with, you might see other artists or the streetwalk- only one exhibition of his work,
a couple of those dizzying Agams. ers of Paris, who would pose for and it was not a success. Police
They're the familiar names, free, or in exchange for the paint- were on the scene and demand-
and so inevitably the most pop- ing.
ed the removal of five pieces
ular.
What many fail to note,
however, is that three of
the world's great artists
— Amadeo Modigliani,
Chaim Soutine and
Camille Pissarro — also
were Jewish.
Chaim Soutine (1893-
1943) is one of the most
overlooked artists in mod-
em history, though some
critics say he was more
talented than many of his
contemporaries.
Soutine was born in
Lithuania, the 10th child
of 11 in a poor family.
Their father was a tailor.
From his youth until
the end of his life, Sou-
tine's greatest love was
drawing. At 14, he ran
away from home so as to
dedicate all his time to
art. He settled first in
Minsk, then Vilna, where
he studied at the School
of Fine Arts.
In 1913, Soutine
moved to Paris, thanks to
the financial support of a
physician who recognized
his talent. In Paris, Sou-
tine lived in Montmartre
and worked such exciting Thanks to his friend Amadeo Modigliani, Chaim Soutine found a buyer for some of his harsh,
jobs as a railroad porter bright works.
and a ditch digger. His
home was a small room, where
Never seen without a red scarf showing nudes.
he took turns sleeping on a cot tied neatly around his neck,
An alcoholic, Modigliani died
with another artist.
Modigliani was a man with an in 1920.
Constantly searching for mon- unmistakable sense of drama. At
Literally weeks before his
ey and with little hope he would cafes, he would stand on the death, Modigliani arranged a
ever find acceptance as an artist, table and recite lines from his fa- meeting between his friend
Soutine once tried to kill himself vorite book, the dark, mysterious Chaim Soutine and an American
Then he made a friend of anoth- Songs of Maldoror by Lautrea- art dealer, Albert Barnes. After
er artist named Amadeo mont.
visiting Soutine's studio, Barnes
Modigliani.
bought 50 of Soutine's works,
Unlike Soutine, Modigliani
which today are on exhibit at the
was an exceptionally handsome
Barnes Foundation outside
man who had women swooning
Philadelphia, Pa.
wherever he went. He was born
Soon after Soutine's meeting
in 1884 in Leghorn, Italy, the son
with Barnes, the artist had his
of a businessman.
paintings on exhibit in England
Modigliani settled in Paris in
and the United States. But his
1905, where his close friends
In his short life, Modigliani success was short-lived. Follow-
included Cezanne, Gauguin produced a considerable body of ing the Nazi invasion of Paris,
and Toulouse-Lautrec. Like work and had countless affairs. Soutine settled in a small French
Modigliani, many of these artists His last love was Jeanne village. He died during an oper-
lived in poverty and spent every Hebuterne, an aspiring artist ation, for severe ulcers, in Paris
penny on paint and canvas. herself and a mysterious figure in 1943. He was 50 years old.
Lunch for Modigliani
often consisted of a
cup of tea.