Constantin Kluge 1912 - 2003
Return to Gallery
Artists List Page
Constantin Kluge (1912 - 2003) "On the Seine" Oil on canvas, 28" x 38"
Constantin Kluge’s paintings show his captivation with the city of Paris, whether in the gaiety and animation of the flower markets, or the quiet serenity of the banks of the Seine, his skill in capturing changing sunlight, with vigourous brush strokes, and impasto paint, evokes the plein-air paintings of the French Impressionists. The architecture of the French capital also features prominently in his paintings, possibly due to his own background as an architect, but as an artist, he is equally renowned for his landscape paintings of the French countryside.
Constantin Kluge was born in Riga, Latvia on January 29th 1912, of Russian parents. In 1914, Kluge’s father was drafted into the Czar’s army, however the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 and the civil war that followed forced the family to leave their home. They moved frequently, finally settling in Manchuria in 1920. In 1925 they moved again to Shanghai, where Kluge graduated from the French Municipal High School. By the time he was seventeen he was an active member of the Shanghai Arts Club. He also had a talent for music, studying both the violin and cello. Although he had obvious artistic talents, from a young age, his parents decided against him pursuing art as a carer, and encouraged him to study for a professional qualification, so in 1931 he left Shanghai for Paris, to study architecture. He then spent the next six years studying at the École des Beaux-Arts and graduated as a French Government Architect in 1937.
The years spent studying and living in Paris had instilled in Kluge a strong attachment to the city and after graduating from the École des Beaux-Arts he stayed another six months in Paris, where he painted numerous scenes of the city. On returning to China, he practiced as an architect for some time, but a successful exhibition of his paintings, inspired him to take his artistic ambitions, more seriously.
In 1946 he accepted an architectural post in Hong Kong and continued to paint in his spare time. In March 1950, with rumours that the Chinese Communists might invade Hong Kong, Kluge left Asia and returned to Paris. Already a mature and successful painter when he reached Paris, he gained considerable attention at the Paris Salon in 1951 and was given an award for his contribution that year. From that year on, he exhibited frequently at the Paris Salon and at the Salon of the Société des Artistes Français, where he was awarded the Medaille d’Argent in 1961 as well as the special Raymond Perreau prize, given by the Taylor Foundation at the Salon. In 1962, he achieved the highest honour at the Salon, when he was awarded the coveted gold medal.
In 1990 Kluge was made a Chevallier of the Légion d'honneur by the French Ministry of Culture for his contribution to art. The following year he was awarded the Grand Medal of the city of Senlis. In addition to his success as an artist, he was also a writer of considerable stature and his autobiography Constantin Kluge was published in 1987.
Constantin Kluge was born in Riga, Latvia on January 29th 1912, of Russian parents. In 1914, Kluge’s father was drafted into the Czar’s army, however the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 and the civil war that followed forced the family to leave their home. They moved frequently, finally settling in Manchuria in 1920. In 1925 they moved again to Shanghai, where Kluge graduated from the French Municipal High School. By the time he was seventeen he was an active member of the Shanghai Arts Club. He also had a talent for music, studying both the violin and cello. Although he had obvious artistic talents, from a young age, his parents decided against him pursuing art as a carer, and encouraged him to study for a professional qualification, so in 1931 he left Shanghai for Paris, to study architecture. He then spent the next six years studying at the École des Beaux-Arts and graduated as a French Government Architect in 1937.
The years spent studying and living in Paris had instilled in Kluge a strong attachment to the city and after graduating from the École des Beaux-Arts he stayed another six months in Paris, where he painted numerous scenes of the city. On returning to China, he practiced as an architect for some time, but a successful exhibition of his paintings, inspired him to take his artistic ambitions, more seriously.
In 1946 he accepted an architectural post in Hong Kong and continued to paint in his spare time. In March 1950, with rumours that the Chinese Communists might invade Hong Kong, Kluge left Asia and returned to Paris. Already a mature and successful painter when he reached Paris, he gained considerable attention at the Paris Salon in 1951 and was given an award for his contribution that year. From that year on, he exhibited frequently at the Paris Salon and at the Salon of the Société des Artistes Français, where he was awarded the Medaille d’Argent in 1961 as well as the special Raymond Perreau prize, given by the Taylor Foundation at the Salon. In 1962, he achieved the highest honour at the Salon, when he was awarded the coveted gold medal.
In 1990 Kluge was made a Chevallier of the Légion d'honneur by the French Ministry of Culture for his contribution to art. The following year he was awarded the Grand Medal of the city of Senlis. In addition to his success as an artist, he was also a writer of considerable stature and his autobiography Constantin Kluge was published in 1987.
