Chaim Soutine: Genius, Obsession, and a Dramatic Life in Art

by Celeste Marcus

A revelatory biography of the Jewish expressionist painter that corrects the myths surrounding his work and proves his importance to the contemporary art world

Every major modern art museum in the world has Chaim Soutine in its collection. Yet, a full biographical study of the artist and his work does not exist. His paintings, which are shocking, grotesque, difficult, touching, and brilliant,  were revered but misunderstood by his contemporaries who mistook him for an expressionist.  

In Untitled on Chaim Soutine, Celeste Marcus offers a compelling history of the artist, taking us from his early days in eastern Europe to his life in Paris among other artists such as Chagall and Modigliani, to his death in France during the German invasion. Marcus highlights how his Jewish identity dictated his dark fate even while he personally abandoned his heritage, and she reveals the conditions in which he created his most intriguing paintings. What emerges is a thorough examination of an artist who defied the conventional standards of beauty in the 1920s and 1930s and an immersive look into the expressionist movement that flourished during the interwar period and influenced the most popular artists of today.   

Genres: Art

304 pages, Hardcover

Published October 28, 2025

Reviews

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first English-language biography of Soutine and thankfully it is befitting of the great artist. It is passionately written and thoroughly researched. As it unveils the mystery of the man and the ferocious societal forces swirling around him it has the pacing and excitement of a thriller. This biography doesn't simplify or mythologise Soutine in the way he's unfortunately often been reduced down to his ethnicity, tragedy, eccentricities, or future fodder for Abstract Expressionism. Instead Marcus focuses on what is known - his actions, his obsession with the medium, and the undeniable power of his paintings that survived. And while Soutine was secretive and left little in letters or self-explanation, you start piecing together a living picture of a singularly driven and complicated individual by his closest relationships, his behaviour, and yes, by how he painted. The result is both human and epic and by the time it hastens to the artist's tragic, unnecessary death there is a real sense of loss.

Marcus also places Soutine within his Parisian social context, and the overarching absurd tragedy of Jews escaping the Russian Empire for the safety of Paris only to be consumed by Vichy France. The research is so thorough and minute (getting down to the finances and awkward practicalities of what it is to be a career painter) that the fast-moving 20th-century Paris scene is alive and present, full of gossip, conspiracy, and hurt egos. It is messy and turbulent.

Look, I'm biased in that I am an artist and Soutine happens to be my favourite artist. I understand firsthand the attraction and mystery of his paintings. But this is a fantastic read even if you don't share the same entryways. One of Marcus' main points in the book is that Soutine's work was motivated by a wanting to capture life's energy - not trauma. And this biography has been written as if propelled by that same principle. This is a must read.

[Jax · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chaim Soutine’s contemporaries are mostly household names, so why do we rarely hear about him? Though his close friend Modigliani painted his eccentric friend, I’m not sure expressionist art lovers spend much time studying portraiture subjects. It’s unlikely I would have heard of him had “Side of Beef” not made such a disturbing impression on me, Rembrandt’s influence notwithstanding. Since this biographer does a fine job describing most everything, one cannot help but gag a bit thinking about Soutine with his poor hygiene and a decomposing carcass in the same room.

Despite his inability to draw the attention of biographers, I would wager a bet that many expressionist art lovers will recognize his work on sight. This biography is among my favorites. Celeste Marcus brings Soutine to life and does a fine job recreating the era in which he lived.

Many thanks to PublicAffairs and NetGalley for providing this eARC.

[Shelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book about the life and times of Chaim Soutine. A well researched and captivating book that gives us a thorough understanding of his struggles and triumphs in life and art from early days until his death.