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Zvi Milstein: A French Artist of Romanian Origin

Zwi (also known as Zvi or Zvy) Milstein was born on June 25, 1934, in Chisinau, Bessarabia, to a family of accountants. His father, Isaac Abraszeman Milstein, was the director of the Kyiv bank and his mother, Riva Davidovna Rosenfeld, came from a rabble background. After Bessarabia joined the USSR on July 9, 1940, Zvi's father was arrested and sentenced to eight years in prison, where he died on April 13, 1942.

Following his family's evacuation, Zwi moved with his mother and brother David to various locations, including Jdevsk, Tbilisi, and Bucharest. In 1943-1944, he studied drawing at the Palace of Pioneers in Tbilisi, where he was exposed to a diverse range of artistic influences. The following year, he took painting lessons from George Stefanescu in Bucharest before moving to Israel in 1947.

In Israel, Zvi Milstein continued his artistic education, studying with prominent artists such as Gita Reitler and Aaron Avni. He held his first solo exhibition in Tel Aviv in 1954 and subsequently moved to France in 1955, where he established himself as a French artist of Romanian origin. Throughout his career, Milstein explored various styles, including expressionism, which was evident in his graphic works based on Mikhail Bulgakov's "Master and Margarita."

In addition to his artistic pursuits, Zvi Milstein wrote plays, novels, and illustrated children's books. His work has been recognized internationally, with exhibitions held at the Museum of Russian Art in Kiev and the French Cultural Center in Paris. In 2000, a retrospective exhibition was organized to celebrate the bicentenary of Hans Christian Andersen's birth in Denmark.

Zwi Milstein passed away on January 29, 2020, leaving behind a legacy as a prominent figure in French art. His life story reflects the complexities and challenges faced by artists during times of war and social upheaval, yet his work continues to inspire audiences around the world.