Smilovichi. Museum "Space of Chaim Soutine".

The Chaim Soutine Space Museum operates on the premises of the local Children and Youth Creativity Center by prior arrangement by telephone.

In the winter of 2023, festive events were held here to mark the 15th anniversary of the opening of the museum and the 130th anniversary of the birth of Chaim Soutine.

Chaim Soutine was born in 1893 in Smilovichi to a large religious family of a Jewish tailor. His parents did not approve of their son's passion for painting. However, he dreamed of becoming an artist and in 1913 he went to France to study at the Paris School "La Ruche". Soutine's first success came in 1920 and he was a very successful artist until his death. He painted in his own unique artistic style, filling them with his own vision, without belonging to any particular movement. Soutine's portraits are especially valued; they always attract close attention and are in the best collections. Today, in Paris and other French cities, there are streets and alleys named after Soutine, and a monument to him has been erected on one of the squares of Montparnasse.

The most expensive painting by Soutine, "Bull Carcass", was sold in 2015 for $28 million. In May 2024, the American auction house Sotheby's held an auction during which 4 paintings by Chaim Solomonovich were sold: the still life "Apples, Jug, Chair and Bouquet" was sold for $482,600; the still life "White Gladioli in a Vase" - for $393,700; the painting "Two Children" - $317,500; the landscape "Schoolchildren Walking in Sivry" - $177,800.

Today the museum consists of three halls with exhibits:

1. The path to success. Smilovichi-Minsk-Vilnia.

The hall tells about the beginning of the artist's creative path, about his studies at the art school of Minsk and Vilnius. Here you can also see a 19th-century Torah preserved in excellent condition, a camera from the early 20th century, household items from a century ago, and reproductions of the artist's works.

2. Parisian Cafe: the atmosphere of the Parisian streets is a hall stylized as a typical Parisian cafe with reproductions of artists of the School of Paris.

3. Shraga Tsarfin. Legacy.

This hall was opened thanks to the artist's daughter Shraga Tsarfina. She gave the museum not only paintings, but also her father's personal belongings: a sketchbook, a palette.

Having come here on an excursion, you can fully immerse yourself in the atmosphere of 20th century Paris and get acquainted with interesting works of artists.

It is also incredibly interesting to learn the life story of such an original artist as Chaim Soutine, whose name has gained worldwide fame, because he is a talented and controversial person who persistently followed his dream.

I recommend visiting it to all art lovers and just people who are not indifferent to creativity and art!