Seated Nude

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.