Leon Shulman Gaspard Highlight

Born as Leiba Schulman to Shmuel Schulman and Cyra Abram, Leon Gaspard is believed to have been born in Vitebsk, Belarus, in 1883—though some sources suggest Ulla, a small town approximately 35 miles away. While his father was a carpenter, Gaspard pursued art, beginning his studies under Yehuda Pen, a noted
Jewish-Belarusian artist, at the School of Yury. He later attended the Odessa Art School before moving to Paris at age 22 to study at the Académie Julian under Marcel Baschet and Édouard Toudouze.

During his time in Paris, he married American ballet dancer Evelyn Adell, despite objections from his family. Over time, he blended her surname with his own, becoming Leon Gaspard.

When World War I broke out, Gaspard served in the French Army as an infantryman. He was severely wounded and spent several years
recovering. While he recuperated, Evelyn moved back to the United States, and Gaspard joined her upon recovery. The couple traveled
extensively, eventually settling in Taos, New Mexico, in 1921.

Their adventurous spirit led them on multiple journeys across the Atlantic to Eastern China, Mongolia, the Middle East, and North
Africa—regions that deeply inspired his art. After Evelyn’s death in the mid-1950s, Gaspard married Dora Kaminsky. Together, they
traveled to Egypt, Moscow, and Paris.

Gaspard's paintings are renowned for their vibrant depictions of bustling crowds and market scenes. His favorite subjects were the
everyday people and small towns of Belarus, Russia, Asia, and Taos, all rendered with a romantic and expressive brush.

Curator
Will Long, Library Specialist I