Emmanuel MANÉ-KATZ
1894–1962, Ukraine/Israel/France
Also known as: MK
Mané-Katz: Milestones
1894
Born June 5th, Kremenchuk, Ukraine, to a traditional and poverty-stricken Jewish family. His father was the beadle of the synagogue. Mané-Katz studied in a heder and a yeshiva until the age of 16.
1911-13
Studied at the Kiev Art School.
1913
Arrived in Paris, studied at the the École des Beaux-Arts, in the studio of the academic painter Fernand Cormon.
1914
At the outbreak of World War I, tried to enlist in the Foreign Legion but was rejected because of his shortness. Returned to Kremenchuk.
1916
Studied at the School of Art in St. Petersburg (then Petrograd); was attracted to avant-garde art, and participated in an exhibition organized by the "Jewish Society for the Encouragement of Arts", which supported Jewish artists.
1917
Returned to Kremenchuk at the outbreak of the revolution; appointed Professor at the Kharkov Academy.
1919
Married Esther (Stera) Pikelna (divorced in 1932).
1921
Settled in Paris and made his home in Montparnasse.
1923
First one-man exhibition at Galerie Percier in Paris; participated in annual exhibitions at the Salon d'Automne, Salon des Indépendants, and Salon des Tuileries.
1927
Acquired French citizenship.
1928
First visit to Palestine, Egypt, and Syria. Visited the State of Israel frequently in the years that followed.
1939
Escaped from Paris to America at the outbreak of World War II, lived in New York.
1945
Returned to Paris, rented a studio in Montparnasse.
In the years that followed, he travelled widely and exhibited in Paris, Brazil, Geneva, London, New York, Los Angeles, Montreal, Sao Paolo, Tokyo, Johannesburg, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa, &c.
1948
Came to Israel during the War of Independence and had a one-man exhibition at the Tel Aviv Museum.
1951
Awarded decoration "Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur " by the French Government, for his artistic activities.
1958
Received a house in Panorama Road from the Haifa Municipality, which would become a museum containing his works and his collection.
1962
Died September 9th after illness, and was buried in Haifa.
1977
The Mané-Katz Museum opened to the public.