Moise Kisling
1891-1953
Of Polish-French origin, he was born in Krakow and studied at the Academy of Art in Krakow under Josef Pankiewicz, by whom he was introduced to the Impressionists, particularly Bonnard and Vuillard. In 1910 he established himself in Montparnasse, where he became a well-known figure and friend particularly of Modigliani and Chagall. In 1911-12 he was one of the group of artists at Céret which included Picasso, Braque, Juan Gris and the poet Max Jacob. At this time he underwent some influence from Cubism and particularly from Derain. During the war he volunteered for the Foreign Legion and thus obtained French citizenship. He was wounded in 1914 and invalided out. After the war he consolidated the various influences into a personal style which was no longer derivative and he became known to a wider public through an exhibition in 1919 at the Galerie Druet. His mature style was marked by polished and elegant draughtmanship and delicately modulated colours, and he achieved considerable success as a portraitist. He passed the Second World War in the USA and in 1945 had an exhibition of recent works a the Galerie Guénégaud and in 1946 he returned to live in Paris. His work is represented in public collections worldwide.
Works Available
Scene de Bistro, 1916