Eric Doitch facts for kids

Eric Doitch (born May 17, 1923, died June 7, 2000) was a talented British artist. He was known for his paintings that often showed single figures or landscapes. His art often reflected his own life experiences, especially growing up during a difficult time in history.

Who Was Eric Doitch?

Eric Doitch was born in Vienna, Austria, with the name Siegfried Steiner. His family later adopted him, and he used the name Siegfried Deutsch. When the Nazis forced him to leave Vienna, he changed his name to Erich Deutsch. Finally, he became known as Eric Doitch, the name he used as an artist.

Eric was part of a group of Jewish artists and writers who lived in London after World War II. He was friends with many other refugees, including artists like Ernst Eisenmayer and writers like Elias Canetti.

Escaping Danger

Eric was forced to leave his school in Vienna by the Nazis. He narrowly avoided being arrested and sent away. He eventually made his way to London, England, where he settled with his parents. London became a safe place for many refugees like him. Sadly, his sister had to spend the war years in Egypt. Many other family members did not survive the war.

Eric's Journey as an Artist

After spending some time at Saint Martin's School of Art, Eric was held in a special camp on the Isle of Man. He then spent the rest of the war working in a factory. He later became a student at Camberwell School of Art. There, he learned from famous teachers like William Coldstream. In 1951, he won a scholarship to the Royal College of Art. After finishing his studies in 1954, he married a fellow art student, Alice Mary Fitzpayne.

Art Reflecting Life

Throughout his career as an artist and teacher, Eric's work often showed his early experiences. He painted scenes he had witnessed or a single lonely person in a landscape. He did not like large crowds. This was something his friend Elias Canetti wrote about in his book, 'Crowds and Power'.

Eric's Jewish background was also very personal to him. He did not often show his religion in public. He lived in parts of London like Kilburn and Camberwell for many years. He used his observations of these areas to paint the city's changing look. He showed how buildings were falling apart and then being torn down. Later in life, he moved to New Bolingbroke, a small village in Lincolnshire. There, he created many artworks inspired by the local countryside and even the pigs!

Eric Doitch had a unique way of seeing and creating art. His style was different from what was popular at the time. He also did not seek fame in art galleries. Because of this, his amazing artistic talent and powerful work are not as well-known as they should be.

Family Life

Eric Doitch married the artist Mary Fitzpayne in 1954. They had two children: their daughter Käthe Deutsch, who also became an artist, and their son George.