Jo Spier
Encyclopedia
Jo Spier was a popular Dutch artist
and illustrator
. He was born Joseph Eduard Adolf Spier in Zutphen, The Netherlands. Jo Spier was married to Albertine Sophie van Raalte and they had three children, Peter Spier
, Thomas Spier, DDS and Celine Spier.
From 1924 to 1939, Jo Spier worked for the newspaper De Telegraaf
where he created humorous illustrations and cartoons about everyday life. During World War II
his subject matter became more political
and he was arrested for his satirical depiction of Hitler
. He was first sent to the camp at Westerbork, then to Villa Bouchina
with his wife and three children. On 21 April 1943 he was transferred to the Theresienstadt concentration camp
, where he was held with his family until the end of the war.
Jo Spier moved to the United States
in 1951 with his family and continued to work until the end of his life. He died in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
His son, Peter Spier
, is also a noted illustrator of children's books.
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
and illustrator
Illustrator
An Illustrator is a narrative artist who specializes in enhancing writing by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text...
. He was born Joseph Eduard Adolf Spier in Zutphen, The Netherlands. Jo Spier was married to Albertine Sophie van Raalte and they had three children, Peter Spier
Peter Spier
Peter Spier is a Dutch-born American author and illustrator who has published more than thirty children's books.-Biographical information:...
, Thomas Spier, DDS and Celine Spier.
From 1924 to 1939, Jo Spier worked for the newspaper De Telegraaf
De Telegraaf
De Telegraaf is the largest Dutch daily morning newspaper, with a daily circulation of approximately . De Telegraaf is based in Amsterdam...
where he created humorous illustrations and cartoons about everyday life. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
his subject matter became more political
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
and he was arrested for his satirical depiction of Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
. He was first sent to the camp at Westerbork, then to Villa Bouchina
Villa Bouchina
Villa Bouchina was a house of internment in the Dutch city of Doetinchem where the Germans held nine Jewish people during World War II, with the intention to protect these 'prisoners'...
with his wife and three children. On 21 April 1943 he was transferred to the Theresienstadt concentration camp
Theresienstadt concentration camp
Theresienstadt concentration camp was a Nazi German ghetto during World War II. It was established by the Gestapo in the fortress and garrison city of Terezín , located in what is now the Czech Republic.-History:The fortress of Terezín was constructed between the years 1780 and 1790 by the orders...
, where he was held with his family until the end of the war.
Jo Spier moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1951 with his family and continued to work until the end of his life. He died in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
His son, Peter Spier
Peter Spier
Peter Spier is a Dutch-born American author and illustrator who has published more than thirty children's books.-Biographical information:...
, is also a noted illustrator of children's books.
Books illustrated by Jo Spier
- The Creation, text from Genesis, hand-lettered by Joseph P Ascherl, New York: Doubleday & Company, 1970.
- The Squirrel and the Harp, by David DeJong, New York: Macmillan, 1966.
- The Spice Cookbook, by Avanelle Day and Lillie Stuckey, David White Company, 1964
- Waters of the New World: Houston to Nantucket, by Jan de HartogJan de HartogJan de Hartog was a Dutch playwright, novelist and occasional social critic who moved to the United States in the early 1960s and became a Quaker.- Early years :...
, New York: Atheneum, 1961. - Peter Stuyvesant of Old New York, by Anna Crouse and Russel Crouse, New York: Random House, 1954.
- The Story of Louis Pasteur, by Alida Sims Malkus, New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 1952.
- One Sky to Share: The French and American Journals of Raymond Leopold Bruckberger, New York: P. J. Kenedy & Sons, 1952.
- Holland's House: a Nation Building a Home, by Peter Bricklayer, Haarlem, the Netherlands: Joh. Enschede En Zonen, 1939.
- Mijn Jordanertjes : kinderen, die ik gekend heb, by A van Vlaardingen, Utrecht: Bijleveld, 1931.