1915-1916

Portrait of Madame Pascin (Hermine David)

American (born Bulgaria), 1885 - 1930

The Bulgarian-born artist Julius Mordecai Pincas, who worked under the name Jules Pascin, moved to Paris in 1905 and soon became a central figure in the social and cultural life of the French capital. The rowdy parties he hosted in his studio led him to become known as the "Prince of Montparnasse," while his paintings of prostitutes in various states of undress brought him fame and notoriety. This tender portrait of his wife offers a rare glimpse into his private life away from the brothels and wild haunts of bohemian Paris, where he spent the majority of his tragically brief lifetime.