The Life and Travels of Soshana Afroyim
Born Susanne Schüller in Vienna, Austria, Soshana Afroyim was a painter of the Modernism period. Her early life was marked by significant movement; following the annexation of Austria, her family fled through Switzerland and Paris before reaching London in 1939. In 1941, she arrived in New York City via Ellis Island. During her time in America, she traveled with Beys Afroyim, painting various musicians, writers, and statesmen. Her career later took her to Cuba, where she held her first exhibition in 1948, and through much of Asia, including China, India, Thailand, Cambodia, and Japan.
Soshana's later life included stays in Mexico, Israel, and New York. She eventually returned to Vienna, where she continued to paint until health problems prevented her from traveling in 2005. Her work has been exhibited internationally in locations such as Beijing, São Paulo, Mexico City, and Jerusalem.
Artistic Style and Themes
Soshana's artistic style underwent several transitions. Her early period featured naturalistic landscapes and portraits, characterized by a colorful, expressive Social Realism. As she traveled through Asia, her work was influenced by the art of calligraphy, leading her toward abstract art and the Informel style. She also utilized techniques that resembled drip painting in reverse to create effects on oil paintings.
Her subject matter included:
- Street sceneries and landscapes
- Portraits of well-known personalities, such as Thomas Mann and Pablo Picasso
- Works depicting factory workers and the working-class milieu
- Themes related to political events, including the Cold War and the Atomic Age
