Jacob Kramer

Place: Klintsy

Born: 1892

Death: 1962

Biography:

Jacob Kramer was a Russian Empire-born painter who spent all of his working life in England. He was born in Klintsy, Ukraine in 1892 and died in 1962. Kramer was born into a Jewish family and immigrated to England with his family in 1900, settling in Leeds.

Early Life and Education

Kramer's early life was marked by his family's decision to leave Ukraine due to anti-Jewish events following the assassination of the Tsar. His father, Max, was a painter who had studied at the St Petersburg Fine Art Academy under Ilya Repin. Kramer's mother, Cecilia, was also artistic and well known for touring a regional network of theatres where she performed traditional Slavic and Hebrew folk songs. Kramer attended the Leeds School of Art, where he had a scholarship from 1907 until 1913. During this time, he became involved in the radical modernist organisation the Leeds Arts Club, which introduced him to the ideas of expressionist artists, such as Wassily Kandinsky and the spiritual beliefs that came to underpin his work.

Career and Style

Kramer's style was characterized by its expressive use of color and brushwork, and his subjects often included landscapes, still lifes, and figures. He was a member of the Leeds Arts Club and exhibited regularly at the Leeds Arts Club Gallery. Kramer's work is held in collections around the world, including the Tate Gallery in London and the National Portrait Gallery in London. Kramer's first one-man show was in Bradford, and he had several exhibitions in London, as well as Glasgow and Leeds. He also gained a reputation as a portrait artist in addition to his more avant-garde work. Some of his notable works include Manikin in the Snow, which is now housed at the Yale University Art Gallery.

• Notable Works: Kramer's work is characterized by its expressive use of color and brushwork, and his subjects often included landscapes, still lifes, and figures.
• Artistic Influences: Kramer was influenced by the expressionist artists, such as Wassily Kandinsky, and the spiritual beliefs that came to underpin his work.
• Collections: Kramer's work is held in collections around the world, including the Tate Gallery in London and the National Portrait Gallery in London.

Kramer was called up for military service in 1917, serving for two years including in France during the March 1918 campaign. On completion of military service, he returned to Leeds where he became something of a local artistic celebrity. He was naturalised on 16 January 1922. For more information about Jacob Kramer and his work, visit https://Wikioo.org/@/Jacob-Kramer. You can also find more information about the Leeds Arts Club and other notable artists at https://Wikioo.org/Art.nsf/O/A@D3BS75.