"Portrait of Sam Salz" by Edouard Vuillard, 1939, pastel and gouache, 20"-13.5". Sam Salz was Vuillard's principal American dealer. He also knew and sold the paintings of Pierre Bonnard whom he visited at his studio in Le Cannet in the South of France. My father left Paris for America in the early thirties but returned to it in 1937. In 1939 he introduced Vuillard to the actor Edward G. Robinson. Both he and Robinson then had their portraits painted at different locations. My father's portrait was done in Vuillard's studio. He gave Vuillard an art book which is on the table to the right. This was in contrast to the Robinson family portrait done at the Plaza Athenee Hotel. My father first introduced Vuillard to Robinson as "A famous movie actor from America". Vuillard did not recognize him and added "I never go to the movies". Soon after, Hitler and the Nazis marched into Paris. Vuillard was stuck but my father and Robinson along with his wife and son made it out on time with their portraits. My father's father Moshe Salz and his two sisters were not so lucky. They were shot by the Nazis near their town of Radomysl, Poland in 1941. This painting is posted in commemoration of the thirty year anniversary of Sam Salz's death on March 22, 1981. My parents Sam and Marina Salz also donated a Vuillard painting ("Dinnertime") to the Museum of Modern Art in 1961. Here is a link to the painting: http://www.moma.org/collection/browse_results.php?criteria=O%3AAD%3AE%3A6194&page_number=2&template_id=1&sort_order=1