Russian artist of the Jewish origin, who blended the traits of Russian Art Nouveau and avant-garde; one of the most famous artists of the Jewish theater in the Yiddish language.

Robert Falk was born on October 27, 1886 in Moscow. His father was a chess player and a lawyer. Robert was educated at Petropavlovsk non-classical secondary school in Moscow. However, from early age he was attracted to painting. From 1904 he attended drawing classes in private schools and studios. Among them there were studios of I. Dudin, K. Yuon, and Mashkov. In 1905 Robert Falk entered the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, where he studied under Konstantin Korovin, Valentin Serov, Boris Pasternak, and Vassily Vasnetsov. During that period the beginning artist participated in various exhibitions.

Robert Falk became one of the founders and active members of the Jack of Diamonds art group. He tried to work with angular patches, saturated colors, and achieve the third dimension of forms. His early works stand out with skilful elaboration of forms. He achieved it with the help of special devices creating expressive volume. According to the artist, such expressiveness of the form elicits special emotional response and focuses attention on viewer’s feelings and associations.

In 1911 Robert Falk made his first trip abroad. He visited Venice, Florence, Rome and other cities of Italy. In 1917 he became a member of the famous World of Art association.

After the October revolution Robert Falk was actively engaged in teaching. He worked in the VKHUTEMAS (Higher Art and Technical Studios), where N. M. Romadin, G.G. Nissky, and S. A. Chuykov were among his students.
Robert Falk's paintings changed over the years. His manner was getting more subtle and complex. Now the artist did not necessarily need to use Cubism techniques to covey emotions. His canvasses became integral and the colors became even richer.

Along with paintings Robert Falk worked on stage design for the plays The Bewitched Tailor, Night in the Old Market, and Uriel Akosta. In post-war years he created scenery for Only the Truth, Lion in the Square, and The Woods Rustle.

Before World War II the artist worked in Paris, where he was sent for “study of classical heritage” and then was evacuated in the war time. After returning to Moscow Robert Falk went on creating paintings, however he had no more opportunity to display them to the viewers. At the same time he kept up his teaching activities at the Moscow Arts and Crafts College.

Robert Falk died in Moscow on October 1, 1958.