His emigration from Odessa to New York was part of the migration of Russian artists in the early 20th century, seeking new creative opportunities and sometimes fleeing the political turmoil of the Russian Empire. This geographic transplant marked the beginning of an American career that spanned nearly a century.
His training at the Art Students League of New York provided him with the technical foundation necessary to develop his specialization in portraiture. This institution, renowned for the quality of its teaching, trained many artists who left their mark on the 20th-century American art scene.
His technical mastery is revealed in his dual practice of miniature portraiture and life-size portraiture, two disciplines requiring distinct skills. Miniature portraiture requires particular precision and a capacity for synthesis, while life-size portraiture allows for a broader and more detailed expression of the sitter's personality.
The family's artistic legacy is a remarkable aspect of her biography. Her two daughters, Eda Mann and Kitty Brandfield, continue the family's pictorial tradition, testifying to the transmission of a creative sensibility. This artistic continuity is enriched by her granddaughter Erica Jong, who transposes the family's creativity into the literary field.
His exceptional longevity—nearly a century of life—allowed him to traverse the artistic transformations of the 20th century in America, from traditional realism to the modern avant-garde. This career span makes him a privileged witness to the evolution of taste and artistic practices in 20th-century America, maintaining the portrait tradition in a constantly evolving context.
