Early Life and Education
- Born: Moscow, Russia, 1896
- Died: Paris, France, April 4, 1934 (aged 37-38)
- Parents: Nikolai Schlesinger (Russian father), Jeanne Malebranche (French mother)
- Early artistic training in Moscow under Ilya Mashkov, considered one of his most brilliant students.
- Apprenticeship at Aleksandra Ekster's studio in Kiev, Ukraine (1918). Ekster’s influence introduced Rockline to Cubism and fostered her creative spirit.
Career and Artistic Development
- Exhibited works at the 24th Moscow Artists Association Exposition and other exhibitions in Russia (1918-1919).
- Married Mr. Rokhlin in 1918, adopting his surname.
- Emigrated to France in 1921, obtaining French citizenship later. Initially lived with relatives in Burgundy before moving to Paris.
- Exhibited at the Salon d'Automne, Salon des Indépendants, and Salon Tuileries (1922 onwards), receiving positive critical reception.
- Early style influenced by Cubism and Impressionism, evolving into a unique personal style described as "something between Courbet and Renoir."
- Became a member of the Salon d’Automne in 1927, signifying professional recognition.
- Shift towards lighter, freer brushwork and softer color palettes in the late 1920s, closer to Impressionism.
- Focused primarily on depicting female nudes, often set against interior backgrounds.
Key Themes and Influences
- Subject Matter: Primarily female nudes, portraits, and occasional self-portraits.
- Influences: Pablo Picasso (through Ekster), Guillaume Apollinaire, Gustave Courbet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Ilya Mashkov, Aleksandra Ekster, Zinaida Serebriakova.
- Style: Initially Cubist and Impressionistic influences, transitioning to a distinctive style blending elements of both with expressive brushwork and a lyrical quality. Critics noted similarities between her nudes and those of Rubens and the icons of her native Russia.
- Color Palette: Evolved from bolder colors in early works to softer, more nuanced palettes in later paintings.
Major Achievements and Recognition
- Several solo exhibitions in Paris galleries (Vildrac, Bernheim, La Boetie, Barreiro).
- Membership in the Salon d’Automne society.
- Positive reviews from art critics like Raymond Escholier who praised her nude paintings as a "symphony of flesh."
- Acquired works by Paul Poiret and Charles Vildrac, demonstrating early recognition among influential figures.
- Sale of her painting “Card Players” (1919) at Christie's in 2008 for £2 million.
Later Life and Legacy
- Became a member of the painters’ section of the Union of Russian art in France in 1933.
- Committed suicide in Paris on April 4, 1934.
- Initially overlooked after her death, experienced a revival of interest from the early 2000s onwards.
- Exhibitions such as "Elles de Montparnasse" (2002) helped to re-establish her reputation.
- Retrospective exhibition at Galerie Drouart in 1984.
- Galerie Drouart is currently preparing a catalogue raisonné of her work.
