Mark Gertler
Early Life and Career
Mark Gertler, born Marks Gertler on December 9, 1891, in Spitalfields, London, was a British painter whose distinctive style—characterized by expressive figure studies, poignant portraits, and still lifes—captured the spirit of his time. His formative years were deeply intertwined with the relationship he had with Dora Carrington, an artist and writer who profoundly influenced his artistic vision. This connection
served as inspiration for Gilbert Cannan’s novel *Mendel*, exploring themes of creativity, obsession, and personal struggle. Gertler's forename was Anglicised to “Mark” in 1896 when his family relocated to London, joining his father. From a young age, he demonstrated exceptional talent for drawing—a skill nurtured by early art classes at Regent Street Polytechnic where he was unfortunately forced to discontinue his studies due to finan…
