William Siegel


William Siegel was a 20th-Century American Communist-oriented painter and illustrator associated with New Masses magazine.

Background

William Siegel was born in 1905 in a village near Riga, Latvia. In 1923, he arrive in the United States. He studied at the National Academy of Design in New York City.

Career

In 1926, Siegel had a woodcut illustration published in Der Hammer : "in an intentionally crude style, Siegel portrayed many workers shouting slogans at what was clearly a protest rally."
As early as 1926, Siegel published work in the New Masses magazine as a "contributing editor". He also contributed to books and pamphlets of International Publishers, the printing arm of the Communist Party USA headed by Alexander Trachtenberg.
In the early 1930s, Siegel began his career as a book illustrator. During the Great Depression, he illustrated children's stories for the Works Projects Administration through the New York Board of Education.
By 1931, Siegel was a member of the John Reed Clubs and showed his work with fellow members Jacob Burck, Hugo Gellert, William Gropper, and Louis Lozowick among others. For the club, he served in 1934 as secretary of a Birobidzhan art committee. He also exhibited at the John Reed Club's in New York City.
In 1934, the New School of Social Research in New York City exhibited some drawings and possibly watercolors by Siegel as well as Anton Refregier.
In 1936, he joined others in calling for an American Artists' Congress.

Works

New Masses covers:
  • "Wharf Nigger"
  • "Negro Workers"
New Masses illustrations:
Books, pamphlets illustrated:
Books written and illustrated: