Summation

1946–1948

A series of misfortunes: studio fire and cancer

His studio barn burned down, destroying his library and thirty of his paintings; he underwent a colostomy for cancer; and his wife, Agnes, had an affair with Roberto Matta.

1947

Painting shown at the Surrealists’ final exhibition in Paris

“The Liver Is the Cock’s Comb” was shown at the Surrealists’ final exhibition at the Galérie Maeght in Paris.

1948

His wife leaves, taking the children

Agnes left Gorky, taking their daughters with her.

1948

Car accident

In a car accident Gorky broke his neck, and the arm he painted with was temporarily paralyzed; other accounts say he broke his arm and could no longer paint.

21 July 1948

Circumstances of his death

After telling a neighbor and one of his students that he planned to commit suicide, Gorky was found hanged in his studio; on a wooden crate nearby he had written “Goodbye My Loveds”. He is buried in North Cemetery in Sherman, Connecticut.

1948. július 21.

Died