Alexander Sachal
Encyclopedia
Alexander P. Sachal, born November 1924 in Kiev
, Ukraine
, is a Russia
n artist who lives in the United States
.
Sachal's mother moved to Moscow
when he was six, where his childhood was hard and lonely. He joined the Fine Arts School in Moscow at the age of 16; his drawings and designs were featured on many of Joseph Stalin
's posters.
At 17, he joined the Russian Army during World War II
, and fought on the North Caucasian Front
. He was sent back to Moscow to recover from injuries from an explosion in his machine-gun nest, and later returned to the front line again. Captured by the Germans, he was forced to work in iron-ore mines at Alsace-Lorraine
. He escaped the prisoner-of-war camp
after a year and a half, in March 1944, and spent four weeks walking to Burgundy, France
. However on arrival, he was imprisoned for vagrancy by French police. Later he joined the French Resistance
, under the code name Le Jeune Russe, but was machine-gunned down and severely wounded by Germans. Fortunately he was rescued and hidden in safety by a French family until the arrival of the Allied Forces. Sachal received the Croix de Guerre
for his bravery.
When the war ended, Sachal moved to Paris
, and studied at Académie Julian
and Académie de la Grande Chaumière
for three years while recovering from his wounds. In 1947 he went to Argentina
, but after two years, he returned to Paris and resumed his studies.
In 1955 he moved to northern California
, where he worked as a commercial artist. The San Francisco Chronicle
called him "The Michelangelo
of Highway 101
", in reference to the advertisements which he hand-painted on large roadside billboards.
In 1960 he returned to Europe, and lived in Spain
for 16 years. The Spanish influence on his art is evident, since his bold and colourful style is reminiscent of Picasso. His work has been exhibited in Paris, London
, Germany
, Madrid
, Malaga
, New York
and San Francisco.
In 1976 he returned to the USA. He lives in Petaluma, California
, with his wife Carol, and continues to work as an artist.
The Pelican Art Gallery has said of Sachal's work
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
, Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
, is a Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n artist who lives in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Sachal's mother moved to Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
when he was six, where his childhood was hard and lonely. He joined the Fine Arts School in Moscow at the age of 16; his drawings and designs were featured on many of Joseph Stalin
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was the Premier of the Soviet Union from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953. He was among the Bolshevik revolutionaries who brought about the October Revolution and had held the position of first General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee...
's posters.
At 17, he joined the Russian Army during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and fought on the North Caucasian Front
North Caucasian Front
The North Caucasian Front or North Caucasus Front was a Front of the Soviet Army during the Second World War. This sense of the term is not identical with the more general usage of military front which indicates a geographic area in wartime, although a Soviet Front may operate within designated...
. He was sent back to Moscow to recover from injuries from an explosion in his machine-gun nest, and later returned to the front line again. Captured by the Germans, he was forced to work in iron-ore mines at Alsace-Lorraine
Alsace-Lorraine
The Imperial Territory of Alsace-Lorraine was a territory created by the German Empire in 1871 after it annexed most of Alsace and the Moselle region of Lorraine following its victory in the Franco-Prussian War. The Alsatian part lay in the Rhine Valley on the west bank of the Rhine River and east...
. He escaped the prisoner-of-war camp
Prisoner-of-war camp
A prisoner-of-war camp is a site for the containment of combatants captured by their enemy in time of war, and is similar to an internment camp which is used for civilian populations. A prisoner of war is generally a soldier, sailor, or airman who is imprisoned by an enemy power during or...
after a year and a half, in March 1944, and spent four weeks walking to Burgundy, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. However on arrival, he was imprisoned for vagrancy by French police. Later he joined the French Resistance
French Resistance
The French Resistance is the name used to denote the collection of French resistance movements that fought against the Nazi German occupation of France and against the collaborationist Vichy régime during World War II...
, under the code name Le Jeune Russe, but was machine-gunned down and severely wounded by Germans. Fortunately he was rescued and hidden in safety by a French family until the arrival of the Allied Forces. Sachal received the Croix de Guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
for his bravery.
When the war ended, Sachal moved to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, and studied at Académie Julian
Académie Julian
The Académie Julian was an art school in Paris, France.Rodolphe Julian established the Académie Julian in 1868 at the Passage des Panoramas, as a private studio school for art students. The Académie Julian not only prepared students to the exams at the prestigious École des Beaux-Arts, but offered...
and Académie de la Grande Chaumière
Académie de la Grande Chaumière
The Académie de la Grande Chaumière is an art school in the VIe arrondissement of Paris, France. The school was founded in 1902 by the Swiss Martha Stettler , who refused to teach the strict academic rules of painting of the École des Beaux-Arts. It opened the way to the "Art Indépendant"...
for three years while recovering from his wounds. In 1947 he went to Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, but after two years, he returned to Paris and resumed his studies.
In 1955 he moved to northern California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, where he worked as a commercial artist. The San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Chronicle
thumb|right|upright|The Chronicle Building following the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake|1906 earthquake]] and fireThe San Francisco Chronicle is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, but distributed throughout Northern and Central California,...
called him "The Michelangelo
Michelangelo
Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni , commonly known as Michelangelo, was an Italian Renaissance painter, sculptor, architect, poet, and engineer who exerted an unparalleled influence on the development of Western art...
of Highway 101
Highway 101
Highway 101 is an American country music band founded by Paulette Carlson , Jack Daniels , Curtis Stone and Scott "Cactus" Moser . With Carlson as lead vocalist, the band recorded three albums for Warner Bros. Records Nashville and charted ten consecutive Top Ten hits on the Hot Country Songs...
", in reference to the advertisements which he hand-painted on large roadside billboards.
In 1960 he returned to Europe, and lived in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
for 16 years. The Spanish influence on his art is evident, since his bold and colourful style is reminiscent of Picasso. His work has been exhibited in Paris, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, Malaga
Málaga
Málaga is a city and a municipality in the Autonomous Community of Andalusia, Spain. With a population of 568,507 in 2010, it is the second most populous city of Andalusia and the sixth largest in Spain. This is the southernmost large city in Europe...
, New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and San Francisco.
In 1976 he returned to the USA. He lives in Petaluma, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, with his wife Carol, and continues to work as an artist.
The Pelican Art Gallery has said of Sachal's work
- "Sachal has a magical style of painting that stands up to the best of history’s master artists. Photos just cannot capture the depth of color and sense of emotion. The “Double Portrait” (oil on canvas, 52″ x 42″) ... demonstrates Sachal’s ability to capture emotion. When he first showed us this painting he simply said that it showed human tenderness. Sachal has a vivacious love for life and dedication to painting."