The Life and Identity of Nicolas Becker Nicolas Becker was a Russian artist whose life spanned much of the twentieth century. Born in 1877 in the Soviet Union, he lived through a period of immense global change. While much of his personal history remains quiet, his presence in the art world is marked by a specific window of activity. His professional career was most active between approximately 1922 and 1932, a time when his hand was seen on canvas in significant settings. The traces of his life are found in the quiet dignity of his portraits. He moved through a world in transition, leaving…