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CAISERMAN-ROTH, Ghitta

Born
Montreal, Quebec, 1923
Died
Montreal, Quebec, 2005
Biography synopsis
Ghitta Caiserman was born in Montreal to Romanian emigrant parents on March 02, 1923. She studied with Alexander Bercovitch between 1931 and 1933, and at the age of 11 received an honourable mention at the Art Association of Montreal's Spring Exhibition. Caiserman attended Parson’s School of Design in New York City and from there the American Artists’ School, and the Art Students League where she studied with Harry Sternberg. In addition, she studied with Moses and Raphael Soyer at the New Art School. In 1947 she and her then-husband, Alfred Pinsky, began the Montreal Artists School. In 1954 she gave birth to her daughter Käthe. In 1961-1962 Caiserman-Roth studied with Albert Dumouchel at the École des Beaux Arts in Montreal under a Canada Council Senior Fellowship. Caiserman-Roth's figurative work reflects her concern with composition, light and colour and she often explores social themes in her work. In the 1950s her investigations turned toward still life and interiors. The 1960s continued with these themes as well as religious/social concerns. The 1970s saw Caiserman-Roth move toward a more surrealist approach in her work and in the 1980s and 1990s her work became increasingly abstract. In the 1990's Caiserman-Roth returned to the theme of dolls and their association with death for her, which she had touched on in the 1970s. Over her career, Caiserman-Roth taught at Concordia University and the Saidye Bronfman Centre for the Arts in Montréal, Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, Mount Allison University in Sackville, New Brunswick, and the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Caiserman-Roth was the winner of numerous awards, including the Canadian Centennial Medal, Canada Council Purchase Awards, and Best Graphic Image Award at the Ontario Society of Artists, and the O'Keefe prize. She was a member of the Royal Canadian Academy, the Conseil des artistes peintres du Québec, and the Conseil québecois de l’estampe.
Media used
Drawing
Painting
Printmaking
Education
Parsons School of Design, New York, 1939 - 1943
Art Students' League, New York, 1943 - ? (under Harry Sternberg)
Ecole des Beaux-Arts, Montreal, 1961 - 1962 (under Albert Dumouchel)
New School of Art, 1943? - ? (under Moses & Raphael Soyer)
Nova Scotia College of Art
Memberships
Royal Canadian Academy of Arts
Conseil des artistes peintres du Québec
Conseil québecois de l'estampe
File & Archive locations
Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal, QC - Media Centre
Montreal Museum of Fine Arts / Musée des Beaux-Arts de Montréal, QC
University of Calgary Library, AB
University of British Columbia - Fine Arts Library
Winnipeg Art Gallery, MA - Clara Lander Library
Vancouver Art Gallery, BC - Library
London Public Library, ON
National Gallery of Canada, ON - Library and Archives
Art Gallery of Ontario - Edward P. Taylor Research Library and Archives
Artexte Information Centre, QC - Documentation Centre
Canadian Women Artists History Initiative Documentation Centre, QC
Library and Archives Canada / Bibliothèque et Archives Canada, ON
Leonard and Bina Ellen Art Gallery, QC
University of Saskatchewan Archives - John Reeves fonds
Canadian Museum of Civilization Archives, QC
Hamilton Public Library, ON - Local History and Archives Department
BIBLIOGRAPHY

Writings about
A Folio of Original Reproductions. Federation of Canadian Artists. Ontario Region. Vol. 2. Unknown: Unknown, Dec. 1951
Canadian Artists of Eastern European Origin Montreal: Concordia University, 1998.
http://art-history.concordia.ca/eea/
CHROMA -- QUÉBEC / Conseil des artistes peintres du Québec. Montréal: Le Conseil, 1986?
File of miscellaneous uncatalogued material. Ottawa, Ontario: National Gallery of Canada Library, ?
Ghitta Caiserman-Roth: File of Miscellaneous Uncatalogued Material. Toronto: AGO Research Library and Archives, ?
Governor General's Awards in Visual and Media Arts 2000. Ottawa: Canada Council, 2000
Monochrome plus. Montreal: Conseil quebecois de l'estampe, 1995
The 4 Seasons: A Collection of Canadian Paintings. Unknown: Unknown, 1963?
"Anniversary." Studio 150 (Oct. 1955): 100
"Autumn." Macleans 72 (9 May 1959): 37
"Back Yard." Canadian Art 7.4 (1950): 163
"Children Playing." Canadian Art 15 (Apr. 1958): 102
"Cityscape." Toronto Saturday Night 65 (27 Jun. 1950): 10
"Décès de Ghitta Caiserman-Roth." Le Devoir (Montréal) 7 Dec. 2005: B7
"Friends." Canadian Art 12. 2 (1955): 56
"Galerie Dresdnere, Toronto; exhibit." Artscanada 33 (Dec. 1976-Jan. 1977): 66
"Ghitta Caiserman-Roth." Vie des arts 33.132 (automne 1988): 66-7
"Le conjoint de Myriam Bédard arrêté" Le Devoir (Montréal) 7 Jul. 2005: A2
"Myriam Bédard et son conjoint poursuivis par un résidant de Lévis: Une transaction immobilière à l'origine de la plainte." La Presse (Montréal) 18 Jun. 2004: A5
"Open Window." Canadian Art 21 (Jul. 1964): 196
"Open Window." Journal of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada 28 (Dec. 1951): 365
"Présence, dessins et lavis." Vie des arts 19 (été 1974): 64
"Sleeping Figure." Atlantic Advocate 53 (Nov. 1962): 91
"Spruce Grove." Canadian Art 15 (Apr. 1958): 103
"Spruce Grove." The Journal of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada 35 (Jun. 1958): 202
"Studio Windows." Canadian Art 15 (Winter 1958): 51
"Sunflower no. 5." Vie des arts 21(automne 1976): 40
"The Painter." Canadian Art 16 (May 1959): 135
"Vin d’honneur/Westmount Honour Role" City of Westmount Westmount, Quebec: City of Westmount, 2007
"Windowscape." Art News 76 (Apr. 1977): 73
Artist biography "Caiserman-Roth, Ghitta, 1923- [microform]" Ottawa, Ontario: National Gallery of Canada Library, 1977
Correspondence file at Library & Archives Canada "Art Dealers: [1955-1958]" Ottawa, Ontario: ?
(Preface by) Pelletier, Hélène. Pluralité 92-93: le Conseil de la Peinture parcourt le Québec [Plurality 92-93: the Conseil de la Peinture tours Quebec] Montreal, Quebec: Conseil de la Peinture du Québec, 1992, 32 pp
Andrus, D.F. "Ghitta Caiserman Roth." Canadian Encyclopedia. Online: Website, 1999
Antaki, Karen. Montreal Women Artists of the 1950's. Montreal: Concordia Art Gallery, 1988
Art Gallery of Toronto. Four Canadians: Suzanne Bergeron, Ghitta Caiserman, Jacqueline Gilson, Monique Voyer ... 28th February - March 14th, 1958. Toronto: Art Gallery of Toronto, 1958
Atelier Graphia 3710. Albert Dumouchel, un hommage (Portfolio). Montreal: Atelier Graphia 3710, 1983
Ayre, Robert Hugh. "Ghitta Caiserman: An Expanding Vision." Canadian Art 9.3 (1952): 114-16
Bieler, Zoe. "Painting, Home Care Capably Combined." The Montreal Star 17 Mar. 1956: 14
Blazier, Wendy. "Quebec in Hollywood: Six Canadian artists December 6, 1984-February 10, 1985, the Art and Culture Center of Hollywood, Hollywood, Florida." Hollywood, Florida: The Center, 1984
Bois, Michel. "Ghitta Caiserman-Roth: L'etang moderne." Voir 22 May 1996.
Brown, Gilles. "Ghitta Caiserman-Roth: une artiste-peintre aux talents multiples" Secrets des artistes 2 Mar. 1974: 24
Browns, Jonathan. The Presence of Absence: Works by Ghitta Caiserman-Roth. Ottawa: Ottawa Art Gallery, 2000
Chapin, Miriam. "Murals in a Factory is Latest Art Trend." Montreal Standard 31 Mar. 1951.
Clifford-Ward, Lynne (Project Co-ordinator). "Visions of Canadian Artists [kit]: Figure and Landscape EDU-KIT: An art Educational Resource for Teachers" Fredericton, New Brunswick: Beaverbrook Art Gallery, 1990
de Repentigny. "Images et plastiques: Ghitta Caiserman ouvre une voie." La Presse 23 Jan. 1984
Desjardins, Christiane. "Procès de Nima Mazhari: C'est le père de Myriam Bédard qui a fait déclencher l'enquête." La Presse 16 May 2007: A5
Desjardins, Christiane. "Procès de Nima Mazhari: Ce que le jury n'a pas su." La Presse 5 Jun. 2007: A17
Desjardins, Christiane. "Procès de Nima Mazhari: Un témoin confirme la disparition des toiles." La Presse. 29 May 2007: A14
Doyon, Charles. "Ghitta Caiserman presente une cinquantaine d'oeuvres a la Dominion Gallery." La Reforme 28 Mar. 1956.
Fago, D'Ann Calhoun. "Insights, Discoveries, Surprises: Drawing From the Model." American Journal of Art Therapy 34. 2 (Nov. 1995): 56
Falvey, Emily. Vanities. Ottawa: Ottawa Art Gallery, 2005
Farr, Dorothy and Luckyj, Natalie. From Women's Eyes: Women Painters in Canada Kingston: Agnes Etherington Art Centre, 1975
Fleury, Élisabeth. "Nima Mazhari arrêté pour vol de tableaux: Le conjoint de Myriam Bédard comparaîtra le 9 août pour être accusé de vol et de recel." Le Soleil (Quebec) 7 Jul. 2005: A6
Fleury, Élisabeth. "Tableaux de Ghitta Caiserman: Nima Mazhari n'exclut pas la possibilité de poursuites judiciaires." Le Soleil (Quebec) 20 Jun. 2004: A5
Fleury, Élisabeth. "Tableaux de la peintre Ghitta Caiserman: La SQ enquête toujours." Le Soleil (Quebec) 7 Feb. 2005: A8
Fulford, R. "Ghitta Caiserman." Canadian Art 18 (Jan. 1961): 16-17
Gascon, France and Pascale Champagne. The School of Women: 50 Canadian Artists at the Museum Joliette, Québec: Musée d'art de Joliette, 2003
Gladu, Paul. "Ghitta Caiserman nous rappelle notre enfance." Le Petit Journal (Montreal) 1 Apr. 1956
Gladu, Paul. "La sensible Ghitta Caiserman se reflete dans ses oeuvres" Photo-Journal (Montreal) 6 Feb. 1954
Golt, L. "Ghitta Caiserman-Roth, or the Presence of the Visible." Vie Des Arts 27.109 (Dec. 1982- Feb. 1983)
Grande, J.K. "Ghitta Caiserman-Roth." Vie des arts 46.186 (Spring 2002)
Guex, Catherine. "Ghitta Caiserman Roth, arc." MAGAZIN'ART (Westmount, Quebec) 7.3 (Spring 1995): 70-3, 1
Hardy, Dominic and Lora Senechal Carney. "Ghitta Caiserman: Drawing Out the Human." Modernisms, Inside & Out: The Fourth Conference of the Canadian Women Artists History Initiative. Toronto. Toronto: Art Gallery of Ontario and McMichael Collection, 30 Sep. - 2 Oct. 2021
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uceG0hsgjPk
Heller, Jules and Nancy. North American Women Artists of the Twentieth Century New York: Garland, 1995
Heviz, J. "New Directions for Ghitta Caiserman-Roth." Art Magazine (Toronto) 16.5 (Winter 1974): 35
Hilderley, Laurene. "Carlyle Painting Finds a New Home." Sentinel-Review (Woodstock, Ontario) 2 Mar. 1992
Hong Kong Arts Centre. Exhibition of Canadian Graphics from Quebec. Hong Kong: Hong Kong Arts Centre, 1982
Israël, Véronique. "La problématique de la fonction de l'art dans la production des années quarante de Ghitta Caiserman-Roth." Montreal, Quebec: Université du Québec à Montréal, 1999
Johnson-Dean, Christina B. The Crease Family Archives: A Record of Settlement and Service in British Columbia Victoria, British Columbia: Provincial Archives of British Columbia, 1982
Lach, Friedhelm and Ghitta Caiserman-Roth. Ghitta Caiserman-Roth: Celebrating Art in Life. Montreal: Kimberley-Share, 1984
Lach, Friedlhelm,; Wolfe, Robert. Le Diptyque. Montreal, Quebec: Conseil québécois de l'estampe, 1990
Lachapelle, Judith. "Rocambolesque affaire de vol de tableaux: L'ex-agent de Myriam Bédard souhaite qu'elle collabore avec les policiers." La Presse (Montreal) 17 Jun. 2004: A1
Lefebvre, Germain, Landori, Eva and Elie, Robert. Salon international de la Gravure : Montréal 1971/ International Exhibition of Graphics : Montréal 1971 Montreal, QC: Musée des Beaux-arts de Montréal/Montreal Museum of Fine Art, 1971
Lévy, Bernard. "La collection Avmor pour la curiosité et l'histoire/ The Avmor Collection: curiosity and history." Vie des Arts 196 (Autumn 2004): 69-71
MacDonald, Colin S. The Dictionary of Canadian Artists. (Volumes 1-8 by Colin S. MacDonald, and volume 9 by Anne Newlands and Judith Parker) Ottawa: National Gallery of Canada, 2009
McCullough, Norah. "Ghitta Caiserman." Canadian Art. v.17 (Mar. 1960) p. 84-9
McMann, Evelyn de Rostaing. Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Formerly Art Association of Montreal: Spring Exhibitions, 1880-1970 Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1988
McPherson, Hugo. "Ottawa." Artscanada. v.30 (Dec. 1973): 198
Mount Saint Vincent University Art Gallery. Jewish Experience in the Art of the Twentieth Century. Halifax: Mount Saint Vincent University, 1976?
Musée du Québec. Au féminin: choix d'oeuvres de la collection du Musée du Québec, 1920-1930 Québec: Musée du Québec, 1997
Muséo de Arte Contemporáneo. La Bienal de Ibiza: Ibizagrafic 74. Ibiza, Espagne: Muséo de Arte Contemporáneo, 1974
National Gallery of Canada. Spickett/Caiserman. Ottawa: National Gallery of Canada, 1960
Nemiroff, Diana. "Graphia, A Living Studio/ Graphia, un atelier vivant." Vie des arts (Canada) 23. 93 (Winter 1978-1979)
Ottawa Art Gallery. Plastic Universe: The Firestone Collection. Ottawa: Ottawa Art Gallery, 2003
Ouellet, H. "Caiserman-Roth à la Galerie Waddington." Vie des arts. 61(Winter 1970-1971): 74
Paikowsky, Sandra. Defining the Portrait. Montreal: Leonard & Bina Ellen Art Gallery, 2001
Paikowsky, Sandra. Redefining the Still Life: Selections from the Permanent Collection. Montreal: Leonard & Bina Ellen Art Gallery, 1999
Prakash, A. K. Independent Spirit: Early Canadian Women's Art Buffalo, New York: Firefly Books, 2008
Royal Canadian Academy. Kaleidoscope: exposition des membres quebecois de l'Academie royale des arts du Canada [Kaleidoscope: an exhibition by Quebec members of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts] Toronto: Publisher unknown, 1998
Sabbath, L. "Ghitta Caiserman-Roth at the Waddington Galleries, Montreal" Canadian Art 21 (Jan. 1964): 11
Saint-Pierre, Marcel. Pluralité 94-95: Le Conseil de la Peinture du Québec voyage.. [Plurality 94-95: the Conseil de la Peinture du Québec travels..] Montreal, Quebec: Conseil de la Peinture du Québec, 1994
Sherman, Leah B. Interview with Ghitta Caiserman-Roth, November 1981 [sound recording] / interviewed by Leah Sherman. Montreal: Concordia University, Oral History Montreal Studies, 1981?
Sir George Williams Art Galleries. "Ghitta Caiserman-Roth: A Retrospective View/ Un aperçu rétrospectif, 1947-1980." Montreal: Sir George Williams Art Galleries of Concordia University, 1981
Skelton, Carl. "The Way Time Passes in Places Like This: April 17 to June 20, 1999." Kamloops, British Columbia: Kamloops Art Gallery, 1999
Stratford Festival. 25 Quebec Painters: Stratford Festival Art Exhibition, 1961, June 19-September 23 Stratford, Ontario: Stratford Festival, 1961
Tippett, Maria. By a Lady Toronto: Viking, 1992
Trépanier, Esther. Peintres juifs et modernite = Jewish painters and modernity: Montreal 1930-1945. Montreal: Saidye Bronfman Centre, 1987
Trepanier, Esther and Landry, Pierre. Femmes artistes du XXe siecle au Quebec: Oeuvres du Musee national des beaux-arts du Quebec Quebec, Quebec: Musee national des beaux-arts du Quebec, 2010.
Ubelacker, Sheryl. "Seven Win G-G's new Arts Award." Globe and Mail (Toronto) 24 Mar. 2000: R-02
University of British Columbia, Vancouver. Caiserman-Roth, Ghitta (vertical file). University of British Columbia,Vancouver: I.K. Barber Learning Centre, ?
Westbridge, Anthony R. The Collector's Dictionary of Canadian Artists at Auction Vancouver: Westbridge Publications, 2001

Writings by
Caiserman-Roth, Ghitta. "Insights, Discoveries, Surprises: Drawing From the Model" Montreal, Quebec: McGill-Queen's University Press, 1993
Caiserman-Roth, Ghitta. Ghitta Caiserman-Roth. Quebec: Publisher unknow, 1984
Caiserman-Roth, Ghitta. Québec Prints. Montreal: Conseil québécois de l'estampe, 1990
Caiserman-Roth, Ghitta and Leah B Sherman. The Artistic Career of André Biéler. Oral History Project: Abstract of an Interview with André Biéler on October 19, 1984" Montreal: Concordia University Libraries Oral History Montreal Studies, Oral History Montreal Studies 1984
Caiserman-Roth, Ghitta and Rhoda Cohen. Insights, Discoveries, Surprises: Drawing From the Model. Montreal: McGill-Queen's University Press, 1993
Caiserman-Roth, Ghitta; Friedhelm Lach. Creativism. 1980
Caiserman-Roth, Ghitta; Lach, Friedhelm. Ghitta Caiserman-Roth: Drawings and Paintings. Montreal: G. Caiserman-Roth, 1988
Gareau-Des Bois, Louise; Ghitta Caiserman-Roth (illus.). "Pulsion/pulse: suite poétique inédite" Montreal, Quebec: Éditions Glyph, 1983
Introduction by François Marc Gagnon. Dialogue on Creativity Through Drawing with Slide Presentation [sound recording] with Ghitta Caiserman-Roth and Rhoda Cohen. Montreal: Jewish Public Library, 1993
Rogel, Joseph; (Illus.Ghitta Caiserman-Roth). Confessions of an Auschwitz number (A-18260)". Montreal: Dawson College, 1972

Full text pdfs of exhibition reviews
Art Association of Montreal Annual Spring Exhibition: (Montreal, March 19, 1936) "Spring Exhibition on Generous Scale. Show at Art Gallery Opened Last Night Contains 621 Items."  Gazette (Montreal)  March 20, 1936.  p.2.   Full-text pdf
Art Association of Montreal Annual Spring Exhibition: (Montreal, March 19, 1936) "Annual Spring Exhibition at Art Association."  Montreal Star  March 20, 1936.  p.8.   Full-text pdf
Art Association of Montreal Annual Spring Exhibition: (Montreal, 1938) "Works in Art Exhibition Are of Unusual Merit. New Policy of Showing More Carefully Selected Pieces Followed by Association."  Montreal Star  March 18, 1938.  p.17.   Full-text pdf

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