Jean Cheller

Additional info:

Jean Cheller was a German-Romanian artist who studied painting at the National University of Arts in Bucharest under renowned painter Gheorghe Petrașcu. Though a brilliant painter and Petrașcu’s favourite student, Cheller’s artistic status was undermined after the establishment of the socialist regime due to his German-Austrian heritage. Cheller’s works echo his interest in still nature representations, but also in precarious urban areas, the latter being visible in a series of paintings that capture the quiet landscapes and architectures of Bucharest’s slums. His observant depictions of the streets, houses, and human silhouettes are realised in an expressionist manner, with a wilful use of unbalanced composition in order to achieve an emotionally charged yet realistic depiction of the city’s fringes. Under false accusations of reproducing Petrașcu’s paintings, Cheller was allegedly imprisoned three times during his lifetime. Following these gloomy experiences, Cheller became a discreet and careful presence on the local scene, with rare participations in exhibitions and at the Official Art Salons of the time.