Rudolf Schweitzer – Cumpăna (b. May 7, 1886, Pitești - d. February 17, 1975, Bucharest) was a Romanian painter and graphic artist of German origin. However, its Jewish origins are controversial.

Born into a family with German origins, he was a professor at the Nicolae Grigorescu Institute of Fine Arts in Bucharest, a member of the Union of Fine Artists, painting department.

He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Berlin, then at the Academy of Fine Arts in Paris. Gifted as a draftsman, with a sharp spirit of observation, Schweitzer-Cumpăna painted portraits, landscapes and especially scenes from peasant life, in different techniques (oil, accuracy and drawing, of charcoal predilection) in a realistic vision.

In painting, he follows the construction of embossed shapes, modeling the paste, sometimes excessively abundant. Its palette is warm, in serious and deep tones. In the latter part of his life, he was concerned with the role of light in painting and showed a strong tendency to specify the form (' Self-portrait' , ' Portrait of a man' , ' Goats in the sun' ).' In the shop of a painting merchant in Calea Victoriei, in front of Fântânii Street, Mr. R. Schweitzer shyly exposes. exhibiting a talent worth noting.

With all his German name, which could cause him some inconvenience, Mr. Schweitzer has a very Romanian rustic inspiration, we could say exclusively peasant. Of course, it wouldn't be artistic enough, if it were just that. But it is enough to prove his preferences, to make his name nice.In addition, Mr. Schweitzer has the main thing: artistic acquisition. Juicy, plentiful paste, thrown with remarkable safety and which lends the figures an impression of robust and solid; a tone personal enough for a young exhibitor to lose things due to the unfavorable light of the shop in which the canvases are placed.

Among them we emphasize the two winter landscapes, of a sure, affirmative and original color, of a communicative feeling that betrays a rather vigorous temperament. The one who managed to give things like this proves with them future possibilities, which, in their time, will bring to the young artist a name worthy of consideration. ”- Nichifor Crainic.

" It is a commotion in this completely original soul, capable of great works, an honest and fruitful commotion. Nothing he does is like others but not because he wants it, but because it is an absolute necessity of his soul (...). From this painter we can expect a new formula of the realities of our land. ”- Nicolae Iorga.

• Technique: oil on cardboard,
• Dimensions: 43 x 35 cm,
• signed lower right.