The Life and Evolution of Marc Sterling
Born in Minsk, Belarus, Marc Sterling was a painter and draftsperson who studied in Odessa before attending the Vkhutemas in Moscow during the early 1920s. After a period in Berlin, he established himself in Paris in 1923, becoming part of the international circle of artists known as the École de Paris. His life was marked by significant shifts, including a period of internment in a camp in September 1941 during the Second World War. Following the war, he returned to Paris and later lived between Paris and Switzerland, traveling extensively and exhibiting regularly in galleries and salons until his death in Neuilly-sur-Seine.
Artistic Style and Techniques
Sterling’s body of work is characterized by a continuous renewal of style and technique, utilizing oil, gouache, drawing, wash, and engraving. His artistic journey began with constructivism as a student of Vladimir Tatline, later evolving toward synthetic cubism through contact with artists such as Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque, Juan Gris, and Jean Metzinger. During the 1930s, his work transitioned into a lyrical realism, often depicting flower bouquets, birdcages, and portraits of his daughters. While his post-war period included dark, tragic visions, his later years in the 1950s moved toward subjects of calm and delicacy, such as nudes and portraits. His final period, spanning the 1960s and 1970s, embraced greater freedom in color and subject matter, featuring:
