Maurice Baskine

MAURICE BASKINE WAS A FRENCH UKRANIAN-BORN ARTIST WHOSE ARTWORKS WERE INSPIRED AND INFORMED BY ALCHEMY, ASTROLOGY AND KABBALAH. HIS SYMBOLIST PAINTINGS CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF ANDRÉ BRETON, WHO ASKED HIM TO ILLUSTRATE ARCANE 17 (1947) AND JOIN THE SURREALISTS. SHORTLY THEREAFTER BASKINE WAS CONTACTED BY JEAN DUBUFFET, AND HIS STRANGE AND DISTINCTIVE WORKS INCLUDED (FOR A SHORT TIME) IN SHOWS AT LE FOYER D'ART BRUT.