Kramer, Jacob, 1892-1962

Jacob Kramer, the artist, was born on 26 December 1892 in Klincy, Ukraine, but was brought to England as a child when his parents immigrated in 1900 and settled in Leeds, with which city Kramer was always associated. After attending Manchester School of Art, the School of Art in Leeds in 1908-1911, and Slade School of Fine Arts in 1913-1914, he joined the London Group of artists. He became a highly successful portrait painter and had a small but impressive output of prints. His portrait of the sculptor Jacob Epstein is one of his best-known prints. He held many exhibitions in Yorkshire and London, and the Victoria and Albert Museum, the British Museum, and the Tate Gallery all hold his work. He died on 5 February 1962.

From the guide to the Correspondence and other materials relating to Jacob Kramer, 1910-1986, (Leeds University Library)