Sonia Steinsapir
Russian, 20th Century

Sonia Steinsapir was born on February 28, 1912 in Moscow. She was the daughter of David Chteinsapir and Rachel Meerson.

In 1918, her mother went to live in Berlin. In 1932, Steinsapir left again for Russia and then settled in Paris in 1936. She studied at L’Ecole des Beaux Arts (in the studio of Georges d’Espagnat) from 1937 to 1941 and from 1944 to 1947.

Steinsapir was arrested on July 11, 1941 during World War II and was put in the internment camp of Marignac-Beaudesert from July 15 to October 14 and then in the “nomads” camp close to Limoges.

Steinsapir escaped January 1, 1942 and made it back to Paris where she kept in hiding until the end of the War. She exhibited her drawings and paintings since 1938 until 1972. Steinsapir died August 3, 1980 in Paris.

Biography and exhibition list courtesy of Le Musée National des Arts et Traditions Populaires, Centre d’Ethnologie Française Paris (Frédéric Maguet, Conservator) http://www.musee-atp.fr/
May 2, 2007