Jules Pascin

This consecutive research that the author made about Pascin and that has entirely contributing character is based on newly discovered sources - exclusively unpopular until now, and on original pieces by the Bulgarian artist .

Julius Pincas ( Pascin ) was born in Vidin on 31 March 1885 in the family of Marko Pincas , which origin is from the same town.

Most of the documents are kept in Bulgarian archives: In his native town and in Rousse (where he has lived and studied); in the depository of the Art Institute at the Bulgarian Academy of Science; at the funds of Museum-Gallery "Classica" and others.

Some of them are brought from abroad. Among the most important sources are: the Museum of Modern Art in New York, "Miluwoki" College, the archive at Fort Weyne, Indiana, Canadian, Israeli, French and American Galleries. A special gratitude the author give to Tatiana Vucheva, who provides him with French and Romanian documents (notes from Pascin's friends and relatives as: Prof. lonelle Jianu from France; documentary pictures of the family graveyard in Bucharest and others), as well as to Mrs. Rika Aron for the originals, delivered by "Farkash" Gallery from Israel.

From a great importance is the search for less known issues of the magazine "Balgaran" and "Simplicizsimus"; information about originals signed "Paschin", placed in Germany (Munich-collection "Anton Zeiler", Kioln, publications of Lotar Lang and others) and proposed to the author by the painter Georgi Stamenov and Bulgarian University students in Haidelberg. Having absolutely unknown for the science facts, I try to build an exact picture for the Genealogy of the Pincas family since XV century. There is true information about the grandfather of Pascin, called Samuel, about his father Marko Pincas, whose act of birth is published first time (born in Vidin in 1846).The origin of Samuel is from the Bulgarian part of Macedonia , named Aegean ( Belomorska ).

Exposing for the first time the original acts of birth and other documents of the family and eight children), I come to the conclusion that the future painter Julius Pincas, becoming famous with his nicknames "Paschin" and "Pascin" is not the seventh child of the family (as all the previous researchers claimed for), but he appears at the new world on March 19/31, 1885 as the sixth inheritor of Marco and Sofia1 Rousso (the last one having a father an Italian ).

This is the first myth that I , as Bulgarian scientist want to reject; besides this I argue about the dates of birth and death of all the members of the family.It is not difficult to prove that Pascin's mother hasn't died in 1913, but in 1908 as well as his father hasn't died in the same year 1908, but in 1909. Contributing moment is the publishing of a document ( see the appendix ) about the real name of Pascin, which is Joshua, given to him according to an ancient Jewish tradition. About the name we could find etymological analysis, which equivalent is Jesus.

Furthermore, there are provings that Pascin has lived in his birth town at least until the end of the school year 1893/1894, having two grades completed at the local preschool as well as two grades completed at school, where a teacher is Nikola Chushkov from Triavna, teaching Pascin Bulgarian, History, Geography, Literature and private lessons in drawing. With many documents are uncovered the first steps in art of the future great painter , who remembers his birth town for the whole of his life, its historical monuments, the outskirts having picturesque nature and especially rich fauna. "The silent white Danube"2 as well is recalled from Julius Pincas many times in his long journey all around the World. These motives (mostly the horses), as well as people from the lower class of society, he draws in Rousse, where his family goes. There he discovers the wonderful world of the Circus, carnivals, and cinema. He takes a look at the local hovel, where he draws "the flowers of evil"3. In this way for the first 12 years of his life J. Pincas keeps in his mind the memories, which will guide the path of many cycles in his work; actually at his return to Bulgaria he will carry with him new impressions, which clues we begin to discover really late. The facts that at present are proposed, will become more and more interesting about the science; we can say sensational.

In this way with strong proves we can pointed out that before 1905 the painter has used nicknames , for which his foreign biographers do not say a single word even. Nevertheless there are documents , cited of T. Vucheva, V. Doikov, G.Chendov, who know very well that for a certain period of time he signs "Paschin-Rouschuk". The information is given not by anyone but by his own mother and his brother and on paper they are written by one of the first publishers of Pascin- the talented painter and the morally pure person Alexander Bojinov.

At the newspaper of the last - "Balgaran", there are pictures of Youlii, signed in Bulgarian (with Cyrillic) - "PASCHIN". The sensational in this case is that at least two are published in the Bulgarian issue 4 years before the German public to learn about them; the third picture - in the same month in "Balgaran" and "Simplicizsimus" (February 1906). The fourth drawing , again signed "Paschin", comes out parallel in two issues, but with different text. Here are published the drawings and their really interesting text, which as well as the sign are in Bulgarian. The original of "Drunk conversation", published in "Balgaran" in 1906 becomes famous in Germany in 1910 and is kept at the Museum of modern art in New York. There ( at the American Museum ) is described as a piece from 1910. The same is claimed and from the German scientist Lotar Lang, who has learned "Simplicizsimus" sheet by sheet.

In this way for the first time the science gives proves that Julius Pincas has used at least 4 nicknames:

1. "Paschin- Rouschuk"- (in "Die libe

Augustin") ;

2. "Ïàñêèíú" in Bulgarian (in Cyrillic)

in the magazine "Balgaran" ;

3. "Paschin" (in "Balgaran" and "Simplicizsimus")

4. "Pascin" (after 1905). (See the

appendixies.)

The surprises not finish up to here: there are many proves, that the Bulgarian theme persist in the works of the artist through his entire life. Here we present the real facts : In 1910 Pascin creates a collection for P. Kasirer that has drawings named "One summer". In it we could find works, inspired from the Bulgarian reality.

In this way for example the author himself names one of them "Balkan"(Stara planina)4. He portraits the atmosphere in one of the towns under the Balkan in a typical Bulgarian way and with the gorgeous scenery.

Another cycle of Pascin is inspired by Rouse. At the fundamental 4 Volume book by Hemin, Krohg, Perls and Ramber (issued with the help of Rosemary Napolitano, preparing the fifth Volume) we could discover more of these works. Among them is a drawing from The Rousse river port ; but there are pieces, describing Pascin's birth house (having mistake when calling them " At the fortifications"). These drawings, disclosing a yard in Vidin or Rouse with vine, throwing fancy shadow over people, dressed in typically Bulgarian way have nothing to do with the military subject" The fortifying of Gligancour". Besides this the last one is much more earl- from 1908, while the Bulgarian house is from 1912 (the year in which Pascin has drawn in Rouse portraits of his relatives).

Another cycles of the artist are inspired from Bulgarian memories, something that is proven from the newly discovered facts of American and French authors ( in this way for example John Palmer Leeper underlines the fact, that Pascin keeps for his whole life the memory from the visit of the Rousse and Vidin Turkish bathrooms, where women from the family have brought him. No one argues about the fact, that the cycle "At the harem" is inspired from the reminiscences, related to the historical past of his birth place and more exactly: With the harem of the local independent leader Osman Pazvantooglu.

The research make me sure ( after entire analysis and studing many originals ) that one another chain of pieces, whose eminent biographers of Pascin connect to his family saga - the cycle "Lecherous son" is inspirited from the deep feeling of love toward his Fatherland - Bulgaria . Most of his pictures include the image of a boy (10-12 years old), with shorts, straw children hat, a stick and a bag, coming from a long journey. Isn't that Pascin himself ? I do not want

p.3

to overplay; to some questions it is better to leave the reader to answer alone. I just underline the fact that at Pascin's graveyard his relatives engrave exactly this motive. As a conclusion , I want to say that , after a deep analysis of Pascin's contacts with artists, scientists from Bulgaria, we must remember the essential thing : each one of them proving that he has never denied his Bulgarian origin. They reject the absurd thesis that Pascin has ended the relationships with his country. There is a pile of documents for his multiple entries to his Fatherland, the clues from which are presented in front of us: there are four big Volumes with drawings from Bulgaria, (kept in Rouse from Arie family), portraits of his cousin Matilda Pincas and Israel Benaroio, drawn in the mentioned town; oils, graphics and others...at the Bulgarian National Gallery; at private collections (especially precious is his earl oil painting "The kiss", belonging to our painter Papa Jan, whose father- rich Svishtov citizen has bought in Bulgaria). At the fond of the Sofia Museum "Classica" the spectator could see little masterpieces, related to the Bulgarian theme: "Slaves in harem" and 'The three graces" ( at the bathroom).

I want to conclude my article announcing that this is just the beginning of larger5 publications, which will illuminate the theme "Pascin and Bulgaria"; at the same time I must to point-out, that this research is a way to come back to the Bulgarian Cultural history of the genius painter-guided to the glory as "the boy Joshua". As a final point I will add that the Bulgarian intelligence is obliged to owe a lot to the blessed from God "Jesus from Vidin". If there weren't so much gifted people like him and the living near by Elias Kaneti6 from Rousse (Noble prizewinner), Bulgaria wouldn't have appeared at the map of the world art.

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1. The name has the same origin as the name of the Bulgarian capital (very popular in the country). St. Sofia was martyr (II Century) and a mother of the martyres: Viara (Believe), Nadejda (Hope) and Lubov (Love).

2. Patriotic Bulgarian song.

3. Baudelaire

4. Balkan is equivalent of the "Old mountain" (Stara planina), the biggest in Bulgaria.

5. But it does not mean that the autor have not published another articles before... just on the contrary - he is the first Bulgarian scientist, who descovered the native certificate of Pascin; the genealogy of his family ; he drew out of the Lethe his real name Julius, as well (Joshua, or Jesus) and his originals kept in the Bulgarian Museum and archives.-See: " Historical Archives " , Volume II , Issue 8 ,November 1999 - March 2000 ,pp. 1 - 50 ; " Archives survey ", 1996, No : 3-4, p. 110-117 ; Pascin (1885/1930).Bio-bibliography,Vidin, 1995, 30 p.

6. Elias Caneti has lived in Rouse until 1911 - in his Memoirs "The saved language", he described with love his native town where he spent the carefree of his childhood. (See part One of the Memoirs)