Polia Chentoff
Polia Chentoff or Polina Chentova (1896–1933) was a Russian artist, known for her paintings, sculptures and book illustrations, who spent a large part of her career in Paris and London.
Also recorded as Polia Chentov · Pauline Chentov · Polina Chentova
Polia Chentoff

Polia Chentoff (1896-+1933) · BNF/Gallica The Voice of fire by Manuel Komroff. Engravings by Polia Chentoff (1896-+1933) - 1928- domaine public Identifiant: ark:/12148/bpt6k323203n · Public domain
- Name
- Polia Chentoff
- Born
- 1896
- Birthplace
- Vitebsk, Russian Empire
- Died
- 1933
- Place of death
- London, England
- Education
- Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Brussels
- Known for
- Painting, sculpture
- Spouse
- Edmond Xavier Kapp
- Nationality
- Russian Empire
- Occupation
- painter · sculptor · illustrator · printmaker · graphic artist
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Documentary summary
Polia Chentoff or Polina Chentova (1896–1933) was a Russian artist, known for her paintings, sculptures and book illustrations, who spent a large part of her career in Paris and London.
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wikidata · Q62893659 · wikipedia · Polia Chentoff
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Polia Chentoff • Born — 1896 • Birthplace — Vitebsk, Russian Empire • Died — 1933 • Place of death — London, England • Education — Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Brussels • Known for — Painting, sculpture • Spouse — Edmond Xavier Kapp
Biography
Biography
Polia Chentoff was born in 1896 in Vitebsk in the Russian Empire in the family of Jewish shopkeeper Abram Chentoff, and, after first moving to Moscow, studied art at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Brussels. She subsequently moved to Paris where she exhibited works at the Paris Salon and illustrated a number of children's books for a Berlin publisher. After returning to Moscow for some years, Chentoff moved to London in the late 1920s where she continued to exhibit her paintings and sculptures. She had solo exhibitions at several commercial galleries, including the Paul Guillaume and Brandon Davis galleries, she also showed woodcuts and engravings at the Bloomsbury Gallery during June 1930. In 1932 Chentoff married the artist Edmond Xavier Kapp but died, in London, the following year from a cerebral tumour. The artist El Lissitzky fell in love with Chentoff in the early 1920s, pursued her to Berlin, and apparently even tried to commit suicide in connection with the unrequited love.

Polia Chentoff (1896-1933) gravure pour l'ouvrage The Voice of fire de Manuel Komroff. Engravings by Polia Chentoff, 1928 - identifiant: ark:/12148/bpt6k323203n (BNF-Gallica)
Polia Chentoff (1896-+1933) · BNF/Gallica The Voice of fire by Manuel Komroff. Engravings by Polia Chentoff (1896-+1933) - 1928- domaine public Identifiant: ark:/12148/bpt6k323203n

Polia Chentoff (1896-1933) gravure pour l'ouvrage The Voice of fire de Manuel Komroff. Engravings by Polia Chentoff, 1928 - identifiant: ark:/12148/bpt6k323203n (BNF-Gallica)
Polia Chentoff (1896-+1933) · BNF/Gallica The Voice of fire by Manuel Komroff. Engravings by Polia Chentoff (1896-+1933) - 1928- domaine public Identifiant: ark:/12148/bpt6k323203n
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1896
Polia Chentoff born at Vitebsk.
1933
Polia Chentoff died at London.
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Vitebsk.
Birth place
London.
Death place
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Further particulars
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Further particulars
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Polia Chentoff is recorded as painter, sculptor, illustrator, printmaker and graphic artist.
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 17 August 2026.
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