Early Life and Career Mark Gertler (born Marks Gertler; December 9, 1891 – June 23, 1939) was a British painter of figure subjects, portraits, and still life, whose distinctive style—characterized by bold colors and expressive brushstrokes—earned him recognition as one of the leading artists of his generation. Born to Polish Jewish immigrant parents in Spitalfields, London, Gertler’s formative years were shaped by poverty and familial upheaval, experiences that profoundly impacted his artistic vision. His father, Louis Gertler, abandoned the family shortly after their son's birth in pursuit…