Eugène Berman

Eugène Berman was born in Saint Petersburg in 1899 and received his artistic education across Germany, Switzerland, and France, studying painting and architecture. Arrested in 1917 as an opponent of the Bolshevik revolution, he was exiled with his family to France, where he attended the Académie Ranson in Paris under the guidance of artists such as Maurice Denis and Bonnard. Berman became a leading figure of the Neo-Romantic movement, characterized by sensual figurative painting with references to the ancient world, often composed in series inspired by musical rhythms. His career spanned Paris, the United States, and finally Rome, where he settled in the 1950s and lived until his death in 1972. Besides painting, Berman was active as a stage designer, travel photographer, and art collector. His work is noted for its dreamlike and metaphysical atmospheres, deeply rooted in artistic and literary tradition while embodying a modern classical style, making him a significant figure in 20th-century art. The largest retrospective dedicated to Berman was held at the Mart Museum in Rovereto, showcasing over 100 paintings along with a rich collection of drawings, documents, and photographs, tracing the three main phases of his career: Paris, the United States, and Rome. His oeuvre includes oils, ink, watercolors, and mixed media, often signed and dated, and his works are featured in international auctions and collections, including the Colasanti auction house.