Moïse Kisling (1891–1953) left his native Poland at the age of 19 for Paris, where he met and befriended the young Montparnasse-based artists—Modigliani, Soutine, Pascin, Foujita and others—who would later become known collectively as the École de Paris (School of Paris). A leading École de Paris artist, Kisling was initially drawn to the works of Paul Cézanne and the Cubist works of Pablo Picasso. But over time he returned to more classical idioms of painting, establishing his unique style based on simplified forms and a rich palette. Employing a style distinctive among the École de Paris artists, Kisling captured women, flowers, landscapes and other everyday subjects of modern, urban Paris.

This was the first Kisling retrospective in Japan for almost 15 years. It was composed of over 60 excellent works drawn primarily from the Petit Palais/Art Moderne Foundation, Geneva and other major European collections. Both his earliest and final works were included, offering a comprehensive survey of the artist sometimes referred to as the virtuoso colorist of the École de Paris.

Exhibits :

• 63 oil paintings

Catalogue texts :

• Claude Ghez
• Gilles Genty
• Itzhak Goldberg
• Sophie Krebs
• Jacqueline Munck

Lenders :

• Petit Palais/Art Modern Foundation, Genéve
• Osaka Cifty Museum of Modern Art
• Brenart International
• Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris
• Musée national d'art moderne, Centre Pompidou

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Moïse Kisling
Arlésienne
1952
Huile sur toile
Petit Palais/Art Modern Foundation, Genève.