Chäim Soutine's Explosive Colors on Display at Kunstmuseum Bern

There is no one like Soutine - absolutely no one!

The Kunstmuseum Bern is currently hosting a remarkable exhibition "Chaïm Soutine. Against the Current" dedicated to the espressionist works of Chaïm Soutine (1893–1943), one of the leading expressionists of the so-called School of Paris. This exhibition focuses on the early masterpieces of the Belarusian-born artist, particularly those created between 1919 and 1925.

Despite achieving artistic success, he remained an outsider, with only a few confidants like Amedeo Modigliani. Soutine's expressive painting style is characterized by intense color explosions, distorted forms, and vigorous brushstrokes, offering a raw and unsettling portrayal of the human condition. He frequently depicted subjects from the margins of society—cooks, bellboys, and slaughtered animals- with haunting intensity. These figures, painted with a haunting intensity, reflect the artist’s deep engagement with themes of existential vulnerability and the fragility of life. Soutine’s works are not only deeply moving but also represent a daring exploration of form and color, making this exhibition a must-see for those interested in the raw power of expressionism.

The exhibition is a collaboration between the Kunstmuseum Bern, the Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen, Düsseldorf, and the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Humlebæk.

At the Kunstmuseum Bern until 1st December 2024.