Submitted by Dr. Elena Ivanova, art historian, independent researcher, author of the monograph “Leon Schuman Gaspard: The Real Story” (Mascot Books, 2023), former Chief Educator at Stark Museum of Art, Orange, Texas.

Leon Gaspard was born on October 1 (2), 1883 (Julian calendar; October 13/14, Gregorian calendar) in Vitebsk, Russian Empire (today Republic of Belarus), according to the documents at the Historical Archives of the Republic of Belarus. His birth name was Leiba Schulman; he was a son of Shmuel, a carpenter, and Cira (née Abraham) Schulman. He started his art education in Vitebsk at the art school of Yury (Yudel) Pen, a well-known Jewish-Belorussian artist. From 1899/1900 to 1904, he was enrolled at the Odessa Art School.<...