Magdalena Rădulescu (February 12, 1902 – March 4, 1983) was a Romanian modernist painter and illustrator. She was known for her

symbolist Symbolism or symbolist may refer to: *Symbol, any object or sign that represents an idea Arts *Artistic symbol, an element of a literary, visual, or other work of art that represents an idea ** Color symbolism, the use of colors within various c ...

and expressionist paintings, inspired by Romanian traditions and folklore. Rădulescu lived most of her life in France. She also used the names Magdalena Radulesco, and Dutza.

Early life and education

Magdalena Rădulescu was born on February 12, 1902, in

Râmnicu Vâlcea Râmnicu Vâlcea (formerly ''Râmnic'', ) is a city in Romania. Located in the south-central part of the country, in the historical province of Oltenia, it is the seat of Vâlcea County and its main urban settlement. According to the 2021 Romanian ...

, and spent most of her childhood in Constanţa. Her father was an engineer and worked on the railroad, and her mother Natalia Herescu was a musician. Her brother Nicolae Rădulescu was also a musician in Bucharest. After

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, the family moved to

Bucharest Bucharest ( , ; ) is the capital and largest city of Romania. The metropolis stands on the River Dâmbovița (river), Dâmbovița in south-eastern Romania. Its population is officially estimated at 1.76 million residents within a greater Buc ...

. She moved to Munich to study at the

Academy of Fine Arts, Munich The Academy of Fine Arts, Munich (, also known as Munich Academy) is one of the oldest and most significant art academies in Germany. It is located in the Maxvorstadt district of Munich, in Bavaria, Germany. In the second half of the 19th centur ...

, and under painter Max Angerer (1877–1955); followed by study in Paris at the

Académie de la Grande Chaumière The Académie de la Grande Chaumière () is an art school in the Montparnasse district of Paris, France. History The school was founded in 1904 by the Catalan painter Claudio Castelucho on the rue de la Grande Chaumière in Paris, near the A ...

, under Bernard Boutet de Monvel,

Antoine Bourdelle Antoine Bourdelle (; 30 October 1861 – 1 October 1929), born Émile Antoine Bordelles, was an influential and prolific French sculptor and teacher. He was a student of Auguste Rodin, a teacher of Giacometti and Henri Matisse, and an important ...

, and

René-Xavier Prinet René François Xavier Prinet (31 December 1861, Vitry-le-François – 26 January 1946, Bourbonne-les-Bains) was a French painter and illustrator. Biography Born to a family of notables from Franche-Comté (the Prinet notaries originally fr ...

. She frequented the

Montparnasse Montparnasse () is an area in the south of Paris, France, on the left bank of the river Seine, centred at the crossroads of the Boulevard du Montparnasse and the Rue de Rennes, between the Rue de Rennes and boulevard Raspail. It is split betwee ...

, and spent time with the other artists including

Alberto Giacometti Alberto Giacometti (, , ; 10 October 1901 – 11 January 1966) was a Swiss sculptor, painter, Drafter, draftsman and Printmaking, printmaker, who was one of the most important sculptors of the 20th century. His work was particularly influenced ...

and

Constantin Brâncuși Constantin Brâncuși (; February 19, 1876 – March 16, 1957) was a Romanian sculptor, painter, and photographer who made his career in France. Considered one of the most influential sculptors of the 20th century and a pioneer of modernism ...

. In 1925 she meets her future husband in Paris, the Italian painter

Massimo Campigli Massimo Campigli (; born Max Ihlenfeld, 4 July 189531 May 1971) was an Italian painter and journalist. Biography He was born in Berlin, Germany, but spent most of his childhood in Florence, Italy. His family moved to Milan in 1909, and here he ...

, to whom she was married between 1927 and 1939 and ended in divorce. While they were married, the couple traveled throughout Europe and exhibited their work. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, Rădulescu moved back to Romania where she remained until 1948. Rădulescu's favorite subjects were mainly carnival figures, scenes with Romanian folk dances, weddings, and traditional cultural scenes. Her work is in museum collections, including at the

National Museum of Art of Romania The National Museum of Art of Romania () is located in the Royal Palace in Revolution Square, central Bucharest. It features collections of medieval and modern Romanian art, as well as the international collection assembled by the Romanian r ...

; and the in Constanţa. Her last exhibition while she was alive was held in 1974, she stopped making work due to health issues. She died on March 4, 1983, in the

7th arrondissement of Paris The 7th arrondissement of Paris (''VIIe arrondissement'') is one of the 20 Arrondissements of Paris, arrondissements of the capital city of France. It is known for being, along with the 16th arrondissement and the ''commune'' of Neuilly-sur-Sein ...

Exhibitions

Solo exhibitions

* 1994, ''Magdalena Radulescu, pictura si grafica'' (English: ''Painting and Graphics: Magdalena Rădulescu''), solo retrospective,

, Bucharest, Romania * 2007, ''Peintures de Magdalena Radulescu'', Centre de Culture Européenne, ,

Charente-Maritime Charente-Maritime (; Poitevin-Saintongeais: ''Chérente-Marine''; ) is a Departments of France, department in the French Regions of France, region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, on the country's west coast. Named after the river Charente (river), Charen ...

, France * 2022, Expoziție Magdalena Rădulescu, la 120 de la nașterea artistei (English: ''Magdalena Rădulescu'' ''Exhibition, 120 years after the artist's birth''), ,

Brașov Brașov (, , ; , also ''Brasau''; ; ; Transylvanian Saxon dialect, Transylvanian Saxon: ''Kruhnen'') is a city in Transylvania, Romania and the county seat (i.e. administrative centre) of Brașov County. According to the 2021 Romanian census, ...

, Romania

Group exhibitions

* 1924, Painting Salon, group exhibition, Bucharest, Romania * 1928,

Salon des Indépendants Salon may refer to: Common meanings * Beauty salon, a venue for cosmetic treatments * French term for a drawing room A drawing room is a room in a house where visitors may be entertained, and an alternative name for a living room. The name i ...

, group exhibition, Paris, France * 2008, ''Sotto la cenere. Donne che lasciano il segno'' (English: ''Beneath the Ashes: Women Who Leave Their Mark''), group exhibition, Palazzo Libera,

Villa Lagarina Villa Lagarina is a ''Communes of Trentino, comune'' (municipality) in Trentino, northern Italy, located about southwest of Trento. Villa Lagarina borders the following municipalities: Cavedine, Cimone, Arco, Trentino, Arco, Drena, Pomarolo, Ro ...

Trentino Trentino (), officially the Autonomous Province of Trento (; ; ), is an Autonomous province#Italy, autonomous province of Italy in the Northern Italy, country's far north. Trentino and South Tyrol constitute the Regions of Italy, region of Tren ...

, Italy * 2024, ''Sânii. O expoziție ca nimeni altul'' (English: ''Breasts. An Exhibition Like No Other''), group exhibition, , Bucharest, Romania

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Rădulescu, Magdalena 1902 births 1983 deaths 20th-century Romanian painters 20th-century Romanian women artists Academy of Fine Arts, Munich alumni Alumni of the Académie de la Grande Chaumière Painters from Paris People from Râmnicu Vâlcea Romanian emigrants to France Romanian women painters