Chaim Soutine: Against the Current

Chaim Soutine's expressive paintings reflect a sense of human vulnerability and alienation in an unsteady world. Despite recognition, he remained an outsider, showcasing his Jewish origins, motifs from the fringes of society, and influences from art up to the present day.

Format: Hardback
Length: 160 pages
Publication date: 05 October 2023
Publisher: Hatje Cantz

Chaim Soutines expressive paintings are a testament to a profound sense of human vulnerability and a life lived on the fringes of society. With their vibrant and intense colors, his meaty impasto portraits are thrown onto the canvas with broad brushstrokes, capturing the agitated and frenetic landscapes as well as the paintings of slaughtered animals. These works express a deep longing for life and a profound alienation in an unsteady world that offers no support.

Despite the recognition his work received, Soutines remained an outsider throughout his life, unable to fully integrate into the social customs of his adopted home in France. This catalog focuses on the early masterpieces and series created between 1919 and 1925, under the overarching theme of emigration and uprooting. The contributions reveal the traces of Soutines Jewish origins in his work, illuminating the significance of his motifs from the margins of society, as well as the use of blood and animal carcasses as metaphors. They also showcase the enduring influences of Soutines art up to the present day.

Soutines paintings are a powerful exploration of the human condition, capturing the essence of vulnerability and the search for meaning in a world that often feels chaotic and uncertain. Through his bold and expressive style, he invites viewers to reflect on the complexities of human existence and the challenges we face in navigating the margins of society. His work remains a testament to the power of art to inspire, challenge, and connect us to the deeper truths of our shared humanity.

Weight: 1052g
Dimension: 227 x 282 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783775755412