Seymour Rosenthal

Born in the Bronx on August 14, 1921, and raised on the Lower East Side of Manhattan in New York City, Joseph Seymour Rosenthal learned to interpret the world through his art at a very young age. Selftaught and motivated by the events of an everchanging world around him, he was drawn to capture what he witnessed. Growing up as a child of the Great Depression, Seymour was moved by the hardships of everyday people seeking out ways to survive in New York City in the 1930’s. Through his various sketches and watercolor drawings, one can instantly be transported back to a time and place of a city on the brink of great strife, and also of great resurgence. As Seymour became older, he grew closer and more attached to the religious traditions and memories that he was surrounded with during his youth. It is here where we can see the influence of Seymour’s grandparents and family gatherings within his works. Many of the subjects in his paintings can be seen with bloodshot eyes, worn skin, and tired looks, as though they were contemplating the past events of their lives. Yet despite their hardened experiences, one can still see happiness, optimism, and pride while gathering with family for the holidays or simply enjoying the gift of being alive.

Drafted into the Second World War, Seymour developed an entirely different approach and motivation for his art. Although serving stateside, he made sure to bring the front lines of the war to the people of New York through his provocative, blunt, cynical, and at times morbidly disturbing imagery. Within this segment of Seymour’s catalogue, his passion for showing the suffrage and hardships brought onto those who were unfairly born of the wrong ethnicity or race is clear. Both his political commentary and love of the enduring human spirit are evident.

Although Seymour passed on December 13th, 2007, his works live on in various museums, galleries, and synagogues throughout the world, including the “N.Y. Metropolitan Museum of Art” and the “Technion Museum” in Haifa Israel. He is survived by his beloved wife Frances, a daughter and son, and four grandchildren.