Moïse KISLING (1891 - 1953) Bouquet of flowers, 1943. Oil on canvas signed lower left. (Restorations). 56,3 x 38,3 cm. Provenance : - Artur Rubinstein, New York (purchased directly from the artist). - Estate of Aniela Rubinstein. - Christie's sale, New York, 7 November 2002, lot 300 - Private collection. To be included in "Volume IV and Addenda to Volumes I, II and III" of the Catalogue Raisonné of Moïse Kisling's work currently being prepared by Marc Ottavi. Moïse Kisling studied at the School of Fine Arts in Poland, where he was a pupil of Josef Pankiewicz, a friend of Pierre-Auguste Renoir. In the 1910s, he moved to Montmartre and then Montparnasse, and became one of the leading figures of the Paris School. He became friends with Picasso, Juan Gris, Manolo and Modigliani. In 1914, he enlisted in the Foreign Legion and was granted French nationality after sustaining serious injuries during the war. During the Second World War, Kisling was forced into exile in the United States in 1941. A complete painter, Kisling tackled all genres: landscapes, still lifes, portraits and nudes. In 1919, he had his first solo exhibition at the Galerie Druet. He returned to France after the Second World War, settling in Sanary-sur-Mer where he died in 1953. Arthur Rubinstein (1887-1982), one of the greatest pianists of his time, was also born in Poland, like Kisling. Kisling painted the Rubinstein family in 1942 with their two children: Eva and Paul. Rubinstein bought the bouquet of flowers directly from the artist, and it remained in the pianist's family until 2002.