Saturday Is For Art: Simeon Zigler's Tree

My father immigrated to this country in the early 1920s, about the age of 12, with his mother and father and older sister Ida and his younger brother David. At the age of 16, he left school and took a job as a printer setting type. This job not only permitted him to help out in the support of his family, but importantly, it helped him learn English. He was an avid reader his whole life. Many times he would tell me if I wanted to learn something to go to the library and get a book. While in his late teens he attended the Cincinnati Art Academy's evening classes where he received instruction in his quest to become an artist. But, the Great Depression derailed his and many others plans for their futures and making art was placed on the back burner for several years. However, we do have a few drawings that he saved that he did in India ink. These black and white pieces and a few drawings in crayon are what we have from the 1930s. This tree is just one of those India ink drawings from that period of his life.

TREE by Simeon Zigler (1911-69), pen & India ink on paperboard, 1930s.