Арнштам, Александр Мартынович

Graphic artist, theatre designer

Born Moscow, 28 March 1881

Died Paris, 6 October 1969

Aleksandr Arnshtam was born into a family of a rich textile manufacturer in Moscow.  When he was 16 Arnstam took up painting in the workshop of Konstantin Yuon. In 1901 Arnstam went to Berlin to continue his education at the chemical department of the Kaiser Wilhelm University. After two years he moved to Moscow and entered the department of law at the University.  In 1905 "Signal" the satirical magazine edited by Korney Chukovsky published several drawings by A. Arnstam. In 1907 the artist emigrated and worked in Switzerland and France. In Paris he took up painting at La Palette Academy and Grande Chaumiere. In 1907 he came back to Russia and settled in St. Petersburg. He mainly worked as an artistic designer and book illustrator. In 1915-1917 he contributed to all exhibitions of the World of Art. After the October revolution the artist was offered the post of an art designer at the State Publishing House. In 1919 Alexander Arnstam was arrested. At the end of 1921 Arnstam moved with his family to Berlin. There he worked as an illustrator, portrait painter and turned to cinematography for the first time in 1928. In 1933 he moved to Paris. 

1916

1922

1923

1925

2000

2010