“The Cellist (Serevitsch)” is an oil painting on canvas created by Chaim Soutine circa 1916. The artwork, which belongs to the Expressionism movement and falls under the genre of portraiture, is currently housed at the McNay Art Museum in San Antonio, Texas, United States.
The painting depicts a cellist, prominently highlighting the vibrant, swirling brushstrokes characteristic of Soutine’s expressionistic style. The cellist is shown playing the instrument, with the cello rendered in vivid, warm tones that stand out against the darker, more subdued background. The artist’s use of exaggerated forms and intense colors imbues the figure with a sense of emotional intensity and dynamism. The brushwork around the sitter and the cello is fluid and vigorous, emphasizing movement and making the portrait seem almost alive with energy. The expression on the cellist’s face, although abstracted, conveys a deep engagement with the music, capturing a moment of personal and artistic introspection.
