CHAHINE EDGAR (31 10.1874 Vienna-18.3.1947, Paris) an artist.  He studied in Lyceum Mourad Rafealian (1890- 1892), from 1893 attended Académie Julian in Paris. From 1896 Chahine exhibited his works (such as «The beggar»(1896), «A corner in a People dancing in the street (July 14). National Gallery of Armeniastreet»(1897), «The homeless» (1899), etc.) at «salons». He attained his fame by his engravings in 1899. Chahine earned a golden medal at the Universal Exhibition in Paris, 1900. He became member of Royal Society of Arts in London, Union of Engravers and National Society of Italian Fine Art in Rome. In 1901 he participated in  Venice Biennale. His 20 engravings earned a golden medal at the Universal Exhibition in Venice in 1903. Then French government awarded him  the Légion d'Honneur. 

In his engravings Chahine used lacquer, aquatint giving his preference to etchings, which he brought to perfection («Dustmen», «Petros Chahine», «Anatole France» (1900), «Woman gathering rags», «Chateau Rouge. Queue for soup» (1901), «Promenade», «Program of Armenian meeting» (1902), «Jemma», «Lillie», «Louise France»,   «Cart», «Jobless» (1903), «Brunette and blond» (1907)).

A market in Paris. National Gallery of Armenia.Chahine reached to realistic deep expression combining successive moments. In 1905 and after it he travelled to Italy, where he created series “Impressions of Italy” («St. Peters canal», «House of spirits», «St. Marcus square», «What a beautiful Armenian nose» (1921), «Attractive woman», «Wonderful child», «Franchesconi» (1922-25)). In 1930, on the shores of English Channel (Brittany) he created series of landscapes «Fishing boats», «A small beach»).

Parrallel to graphics Chahine illustrated books as well (Flaubert «November» (1927), etc.). Chahine’s works are considered to be significant phenomena of Armenian culture and European painting of the beginning of the 20th century with their special world view and national uniqueness.

He was the member of National Union of French Art Critics (1908), Union of ArmenianNotre Dame Cathedral. National gallery of Armenia Art Historians of Tiflis (1916), «Ani» Union of French-Armenian Artists of Paris (1926, from 1929 head of the Union), Honorary member of the Union of Armenian Art Historians (1928), member of French «The independent» union (1933).

He had exhibitions in Yerevan (1936), Tbilisi (1936), Leningrad (1940). In 1974 and 1994 there was exhibition of Chahine’s works dedicated to his 100 and 120th anniversaries. Chahine gave 160 works to Armenia. His works are kept in National Library of Paris, Museum of Venice, National Gallery of Armenia, Hermitage (St. Petersburg), Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts and in other museums. In 1995 Chahine museum was founded in Saint-Michel (Normandy).


Source- Encyclopedia «Who is who. The Armenians», volume 2, chief editor H. Ayvazyan,  Yerevan 2007, p.-239-240 (in Armenian).

 

See also

Edgar Chahine (paintings)

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