color lithograph, paper, sheet size 75x55 cm; signed in pencil l.d: 149/150 and p.d.: oval imprint "ATELIER KISLING" and signature in pencil Jean Kisling
Studied between 1907 and 1911 at the Academy of Fine Arts in Cracow under the direction of Józef Pankiewicz. In 1911 he went to Paris, where he entered the circle of École de Paris artists. Mojżesz Kisling belonged to the Professional Union of Polish Painters and Sculptors, but while living abroad, he did not maintain contact with Poland. During World War I, the painter fought in the Foreign Legion. During the fighting he was wounded and was discharged from the army in 1915. For his combat he was granted French citizenship. Moses Kisling earned the nickname "Prince of Montparnasse" because he became one of the leading representatives of the École de Paris and maintained contacts with prominent cinema star painters. Among those who frequented his studio were Pablo Picasso, André Derain, Juan Gris, Amedeo Modigliani and Chaim Soutine. He maintained friendly relations with Polish artists Tadeusz Makowski, Eugeniusz Zak, Ludwik Markus, Roman Kramsztyk and Melania Mutermilch.
Around 1912, Moses Kisling's paintings were characterized by a simplified form of synthesized geometric solids and prismatic planes, as well as a piling up of compositional plans and an elevated point of view. During this period the artist mostly created landscapes and still lifes. After the war, Moses Kisling returned to painting. At that time he shared his Paris studio with Modigliani. The artist's work had clear references to ancient art, including Italian quattrocento portraiture, 16th-century landscapes and 17th-century Dutch painting. The artist also created lyrical children's portraits and female portraits and nudes. The figures in the paintings were characterized by large, sad eyes and thoughtful faces.
After the outbreak of World War II, he joined the ranks of the French army, but was quickly transferred to the reserves. In order to avoid arrest in 1940, he moved to the United States. He returned to France in 1946 and settled in Sanary-sur-Mer, where he died in 1953.
