Michel Kikoine facts for kids

Michel Kikoïne (born May 31, 1892 – died November 4, 1968) was a talented French painter. He was born in a place called Rechytsa, which is now part of Belarus. Kikoïne was known for his beautiful paintings, especially his landscapes. He was part of a group of artists who moved to Paris in the early 1900s.

A Young Artist's Journey

Michel Kikoïne grew up in a small town called Gomel. His father was a banker. When Michel was just a teenager, he started studying at a drawing school in Minsk. There, he met Chaïm Soutine, who became a lifelong friend.

At age 16, Kikoïne and Soutine studied together at the Vilnius Academy of Art. In 1911, Kikoïne moved to Paris, France. He joined many other artists who were gathering in the Montparnasse area. His friend Soutine was there, along with another painter from Belarus, Pinchus Kremegne.

For a while, Kikoïne lived at a famous art residence called La Ruche. He also studied at the École des Beaux-Arts, a well-known art school. In 1914, he married a young woman from Vilnia. They had a daughter and a son. Their son, Jacques Yankel, born in France in 1920, also grew up to be a painter. In the same year he got married, Kikoïne joined the French army. He served until World War I ended.

When World War II started and Germany took over France, Kikoïne and his Jewish family faced great danger. To stay safe, they moved near Toulouse and stayed there until the war ended. In 1958, he moved to Cannes, a city on the Mediterranean Sea coast. He spent his last years painting landscapes until he passed away on November 4, 1968.

His Artistic Career

Michel Kikoïne had his first art show in Paris in 1919. After that, he regularly showed his paintings at the Salon d'Automne, a famous art exhibition. His artwork was successful enough to provide a good life for him and his family. This allowed them to spend their summers painting landscapes in the south of France. One of his most famous landscape paintings is "Paysage Cezannien." It was inspired by the famous artist Paul Cézanne.

Lasting Influence

In 2004, a new part of the Genia Schreiber University Art Gallery in Tel Aviv, Israel, was opened. It was dedicated to the memory of Michel Kikoïne and his art.

See also

In Spanish: Michel Kikoïne para niños