František Reichentál (May 6, 1895 – April 2, 1971), also known as Frank/Ferenc, Reichenthal/Reichen-tal, was a Jewish Eastern European modern artist. He is known for paintings depicting his experiences of childhood poverty, captivity as a prisoner of war in Russia, escape from the Nazis, and finally fleeing from the Communists to start over in the United States. Early life Reichentál was born in Lehnice (Velky Leg), Austria-Hungary, the son of Janos Reichentál and Fanny Weinberger. He had one sister and one brother. He attended Grammar School in Bratislava and Győr. World War I In 1916, he served in the Austro-Hungarian Army, where he was captured by the Russians and sent to prisoner of war camp. In addition to disrupting his studies, the war years took the lives of both his brother and father. He spent the October Revolution in 1917 in captivity. Education and early career Despite the war ending in 1918, Reichentál was not allowed to leave Russia. Captured officers were being held at the time by Russia as hostages for the release of Hungarian Communists. He was, however, given permission to study. From 1917 to 1919, he taught at art schools in Irkutsz. Between 1920 and 1921, he enrolled at the Petrograd Art Academy and studied under V. V. Belyayev. After Petrograd, Reichentál painted and taught art with Marc Chagall. He had expos is both Moscow and St. Petersburg, with works being purchased by the State. Career in Czechoslovakia After returning home in 1921 to what had become Czechoslovakia, Reichentál mounted exhibitions in Berlin, Prague, and Paris. In 1922, Reichentál's works focused on social issues revealed in a style of Expressionism. He became a member of the Union of Artists in Slovakia, and had an exposition in Prague. In 1925, he exhibited drawings, engravings and lithographs in Berlin and Dresden. Further exhibits were held at the Parliament Building in Prague and the Galerie au Sacre du Printemp in Paris in 1926. In Bratislava, all the works in a 1931 exhibition were purchased. The same year, he founded a private art school. Reichentál worked with various media and styles, but was best known for his expressionist works, such as Street, Cafe and Dock Workers. Later he developed his characteristic style in cubism. His travels brought him to Sub-Carpathuan Ruthenia (now Zakarpattya in Ukraine) where he painted many Jewish-themed works, including Bhaur from Sub-Carpathian Ruthenia, At Prayer, Jewich Street, and