Born on May 19th 1910 in Craiova, Ion Tuculescu would later become both a doctor and an artist, bt his artistic talent and expertise made everyone forget that he could also treat diseases. He came from a rather well-to-do family, who encouraged his to pursue his dual career, and Ion Tuculescu began creating his first compositions in his highschool years, although he was largely just experimenting and learning about the history of art, techniques, themes and trends. He had first first exhibition in 1925, while he was still a teenager, a show shared with his brother, Serban Tuculescu, himself a rather important artist. The show, organised at the Administrative Palace in Dolj, was a success, and the same year the young painter left for Paris. Five years later he would once again travel abroad, this time to Greece, together with Gala Galaction, who would be a friend and protector.
Although his friends and family hoped that Tuculescu would dedicate himself solely to art, the painter enrolled in 1932 at the Bucharest University, where he studied National Sciences. At the same time, until 1937, he was studying medical science, graduating in 1939. He was a doctor, and a very good one, which didn't mean that he ever gave up painting and drawing. More than that, he worked even to a larger scale than before, trying to perfect himself with every single composition. It would be in 1938 that he had his first ever solo show, in Bucharest. Critics and art collectors were thrilled by the talent and original works signed by Tuculescu, and the exhibition was a success.
After finishing his military duty on the battleline, in 1943, where he treated wounded soldiers, Tuculescu would return to Bucharest and resumed being a painter and a doctor, trying to have a balance between these two passions. Although the change of political regimes and the beginning of a new, Communist era, he was lucky to be left alone and to continue his work. One of the few tallented artists who had this chance.
He became a researcher at the Romanian Academy in 1950, he worked for some hospitals in Bucharest, yet he was much more popular for his shows. He exhibited several times, mostly in Bucharest, at group shows, and had no less that seven solo exhibitions at the Romanian Athenaeum in the country's capital. A very popular and influential artist, his works being bought by collectors from all over, his shows being successful and highly praised, Tuculescu kept on working, painting and teaching younger painters. His last work was finished on April 27th. Tuculescu died on July 27th 1962.
The style of this artist is most interesting, as it mixes Expressionism folk art, avantgarde, in a strange and highly aesthetical technique, easily recognisable. Ion Tuculescu had a real soft spot for folk art motifs and elements, which he usually used in his works.
