Nicolas Sternberg was born in 1901 in Hungary. Little is known about his early life. He spent some time in Munich before arriving in Paris. Sternberg was a prolific artist and illustrator. He illustrated several books in the 1920s and 1930s. He also worked as an illustrator of magazines such as Elle. In 1930, in the magazine l’Art et les Artistes André Warnod wrote and extensive review of Sternberg’s work being exhibited at the Georges Petit Galerie in Paris. Sternberg’s work shows the influence of Expressionism but like many of the artists of l’École de Paris his style is difficult to define. His portraits are powerful and intimate including his many Self-portraits. In October of 2003 a Paris auction company sold a large estate of his work including mostly portraits of women and circus performers. Sternberg died in the 1960’s.