Moise Kisling Paintings

Moise Kisling was a Polish-born French painter, born on January 22, 1891, in Kraków, Poland. He moved to Paris in 1910 at the age of 19, where he became a prominent member of the artistic community in Montparnasse. Known for his distinctive style that blended elements of Cubism with a unique form of Expressionism, Kisling's work was versatile, encompassing portraits, nudes, landscapes, and still lifes.

In Paris, Kisling became friends with many leading figures in the art world, including Amedeo Modigliani, Pablo Picasso, and Jean Cocteau, and he was closely associated with the School of Paris. His studio became a gathering place for artists, writers, and intellectuals, reflecting his central role in the Montparnasse artistic community. Despite his Polish origins, Kisling volunteered for the French Foreign Legion at the outbreak of World War I, demonstrating his deep affinity for France. He was seriously injured in 1915, which led to a lengthy recovery period.

After the war, Kisling returned to painting and enjoyed considerable commercial success. His work was exhibited widely in Paris, as well as internationally, including shows in New York, Washington, D.C., and London. His paintings are characterized by their vivid color, sensuous forms, and a certain eroticism, particularly his nudes and portraits of women. Despite his association with Cubism, Kisling's style remained uniquely his own, resisting full adherence to any single artistic movement.

Kisling's life and career were interrupted by the outbreak of World War II. Being Jewish, he was forced to flee Paris in 1940, escaping to the United States where he lived and worked until the end of the war. After the liberation of Paris, he returned to France, continuing to paint until his death on April 29, 1953, in Sanary-sur-Mer, France. Throughout his career, Kisling amassed a body of work that was both prolific and influential. Today, his paintings are held in numerous public and private collections around the world, attesting to his enduring legacy in the history of 20th-century art.