Seated Nude

Autorius

Vera Rockline

Gimė Moscow, Russia

Early Life and Education

Born: Moscow, Russia, 1896

Died: Paris, France, April 4, 1934 (aged 37-38)

Parents: Nikolai Schlesinger (Russian father), Jeanne Malebranche (French mother)

Early artistic training in Moscow under Ilya Mashkov, considered one of his most brilliant students.

Apprenticeship at Aleksandra Ekster's studio in Kiev, Ukraine (1918). Ekster’s influence introduced Rockline to Cubism and fostered her creative spirit.

Career and Artistic Development

Exhibited works at the 24th Moscow Artists Association Exposition and other exhibitions in Russia (1918-1919).

Married Mr. Rokhlin in 1918, adopting his surname.

Emigrated to France in 1921, obtaining French citizenship later. Initially lived with relatives in Burgundy before moving to Paris.

Exhibited at the Salon d'Automne, Salon des Indépendants, and Salon Tuileries (1922 onwards), receiving positive critical reception.

Early style influenced by Cubism and Impressionism, evolving into a unique personal style described as "something between Courbet and Renoir."

Became a member of the Salon d’Automne in 1927, signifying professional recognition.

Shift towards lighter, freer brushwork and softer color palettes in the late 1920s, closer to Impressionism.

Focused primarily on depicting female nudes, often set against interior backgrounds.

Key Themes and Influences

Subject Matter: Primarily female nudes, portraits, and occasional self-portraits.

Influences: Pablo Picasso (through Ekster), Guillaume Apollinaire, Gustave Courbet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Ilya Mashkov, Aleksandra Ekster, Zinaida Serebriakova.

Style: Initially Cubist and Impressionistic influences, transitioning to a distinctive style blending elements of both with expressive brushwork and a lyrical quality. Critics noted similarities between her nudes and those of Rubens and the icons of her native Russia.

Color Palette: Evolved from bolder colors in early works to softer, more nuanced palettes in later paintings.

Major Achievements and Recognition

Several solo exhibitions in Paris galleries (Vildrac, Bernheim, La Boetie, Barreiro).

Membership in the Salon d’Automne society.

Positive reviews from art critics like Raymond Escholier who praised her nude paintings as a "symphony of flesh."

Acquired works by Paul Poiret and Charles Vildrac, demonstrating early recognition among influential figures.

Sale of her painting “Card Players” (1919) at Christie's in 2008 for £2 million.

Later Life and Legacy

Became a member of the painters’ section of the Union of Russian art in France in 1933.

Committed suicide in Paris on April 4, 1934.

Initially overlooked after her death, experienced a revival of interest from the early 2000s onwards.

Exhibitions such as "Elles de Montparnasse" (2002) helped to re-establish her reputation.

Retrospective exhibition at Galerie Drouart in 1984.

Galerie Drouart is currently preparing a catalogue raisonné of her work.