Nathan Altman was a painter, graphic artist, sculptor, and stage designer, and one of the key figures of the Russian avant-garde. He studied at the Odessa Art School. In 1910–1911, he lived in Paris at the famous "La Ruche". From 1912, he lived in St. Petersburg. He participated in the exhibitions of "Mir Iskusstva" (World of Art), "Soyuz Molodyozhi" (Union of Youth), "0.10", and "Bubnovy Valet" (Jack of Diamonds). The artist gained particular renown for his "Portrait of Anna Akhmatova". Nathan Altman worked in painting, sculpture, and printmaking, and also achieved success as a theatrical designer. After the Revolution, he was a member of the Board of the Fine Arts Department (IZO) of Narkompros (People's Commissariat for Education), editor of the newspaper "Iskusstvo Kommuny" (Art of the Commune), and one of the initiators of the "First State Free Exhibition of Works of Art". In the 1920s, he worked extensively in the theatre: he designed V. Mayakovsky's "Mystery-Bouffe" and the legendary "The Dybbuk" directed by Evgeny Vakhtangov (1922). He also designed productions such as "Uriel Acosta" by Carl Gutzkow (1921), "The Doctor" based on Sholom Aleichem (1922), and others. He served as the chief designer of GOSET (State Jewish Theatre) from 1924 to 1928. From 1928 to 1935, he lived in Paris. After returning to the USSR, he continued to work as a book illustrator and stage designer. A large number of costume designs and scenery sketches, as well as playbills and photographs for performances designed by N.I. Altman, are held at the Bakhrushin Theatre Museum.