Albert Sala is a French artist whose portraits became a symbol of the 1920s and 1930s. At that time, he was recognized as one of the best masters of secular portraiture; the most influential ladies of Paris and America sought to pose for his brush. But World War II cut short his career and led to tragic consequences.
In Paris in the 1920s, Albert Sala quickly gained a reputation as an artist who could convey not only the external beauty, but also the inner world of his models. His works were distinguished by the sophistication of color and attention to detail. A commission for a portrait from Sala was a sign of status, and his paintings adorned the homes of high society.
Not only French, but also American aristocrats dreamed of having their portrait painted by this master. He worked in the spirit of modernized academicism, combining classical tradition with new artistic trends.
With the rise of the National Socialist German Workers' Party to power, Sala's fate changed dramatically. He was forbidden to work, and his family suffered from repression. His son was the only surviving relative. This shock was so strong that the artist completely abandoned painting.
Albert Sala spent the last 30 years of his life in complete seclusion in Arles, where he lived until his death in 1972. He no longer painted, and his name gradually disappeared from the art world.
His works are mainly in private collections, and only rare canvases appear at exhibitions and auctions. But despite this, Albert Sala remains an important figure in the history of portrait painting in the first half of the 20th century, and his art continues to enchant connoisseurs of beauty and elegance.
Source:
gazette-drouot.com
catherinelarosepoesiaearte.com
