Soutine, back from two years of painting in the French Pyrénées, is now 30 years old discouraged and depressed. He is financially dependent on Léopold Zborowski, his art dealer; Modigliani, a good friend and major influence on his art has died the year before. Soutine has begun to hate the art he produced in the Pyrénées and is starting to destroy his canvases from the Céret period.

Zborowski drops by and tells him that Paul Guillaume has been by the gallery and likes his art. He has a rich American art collector with him, and he believes they are going to buy a good deal of his art.

Soutine's mood swings from depression to elation and his finances go from nothing to riches in months.

Soutine is "discovered" by Albert C. Barnes, a wealthy American businessman and art collector who buys many paintings, not only those of Soutine, but many other artists working in Paris at the time.

This transaction provides the foundation of Soutine's reputation but also the basis of his financial independence.

Paul Guillaume, Barnes' artistic advisor writes an article on Soutine for the January 1923 issue of Arts à Paris.

Chardin: Ray and Rabbit

Rembrandt: Carcass of Beef

Soutine is living in Paris on Rue du Mont St. Gothard.

Soutine visits Amsterdam and becomes fascinated with Rembrandt's Jewish Bride in the Rijksmuseum.

Meets Deborah Melnik, a Lithuanian Jew he had met in Vilna. Melnik claims that Soutine married her in a religious ceremony and a daughter is born shortly afterward. Soutine denies he is the father and leaves both the mother and child.

Soutine about 1925

Rembrandt:
Jewish Bride

Soutine becomes fascinated with Rembrandt's Hendrickje Bathing in the National Gallery, London.

Elie Faure's book Soutine is published.

In Paris Soutine moves to Passage d'Enfer.

Soutine spends several months convalescing in Nice.

He begins spending his summers in the Castaing Home in Léves, on the Loire near Chartres. This continued through 1935.

Chartres TL155
about 1934
Museum of Modern Art
New York, NY, US

Eve TP148
about 1933

English Girl
in Blue TP167
about 1937

Windy Day
— Auxerre TL166
about 1939
The Phillips Collection
Washington, DC, US

In Paris Soutine moves to Avenue d'Orléans.

Soutine falls in love with Gerda Groth, a German refugee.

Retrospective exhibition at Leicester Galleries in London.

He has increasingly severe attacks of stomach ulcers.

Moves to Villa Seurat with Gerda Groth. His neighbors include Henry Miller. Visits the Louvre and becomes fascinated with Egyptian and archaic Greek sculpture.

Soutine goes to Civry-sur-Serein near Auxerre.

World War II starts in September.

Both Gerta and Soutine are forbidden to leave Civry because they are foreigners.

Soutine is permitted to return to Paris for medical reasons.

Two Pigs TSL166
about 1940

Thérèse by
the River TP183
about 1942

Gerta returns to Paris in April. On May 15 she is interned with other Germans living in Paris and then deported to camp de Gurs, a concentration camp in the Pyrénées. Soutine never sees her again.

Soutine is invited to the United States but he refuses.

It is increasing dangerous for him to remain in Paris as a Jew. In November he meets Marie-Berthe Aurenche, the ex-wife of Max Ernst. She becomes his companion.

Fearing the Nazi's both Marie-Berthe and Soutine go into hiding. First in Paris, later in the countryside, mostly in the village of Champigny sur Veude, close to the city of Tours.

Soutine paints landscapes of Champigny and Richelieu. Figures appear in his landscapes. He starts painting mother and child portraits.

Threats of denunciation to the police create an atmosphere of tension and fear that aggravates Soutine's ulcer condition. They change residence often.