Biography
Siona Tagger (August 17, 1900 – June 19, 1988) was a renowned Israeli painter, known for her depictions of early 20th-century life and the Yishuv. She is often considered "the most important Israeli artist of the early decades of the 20th century."
Born in Jaffa to Shmuel and Sultana Tagger, her family of Sephardic origin emigrated from Spain to the Netherlands, Germany and Bulgaria before settling in Palestine. She attended the Yehili School for Girls and the Levinski Seminary before studying art under Isaac Frenkel and Joseph Constantinovsky at Gymnasia Herzliya in Tel Aviv. Despite parental opposition, she continued her studies at the Bezalel Academy of Fine Arts in Jerusalem, before moving to Paris to continue her artistic training.
In the 1930s and 1940s, despite personal challenges, including her marriage to Michel-Mordechai Katz and subsequent divorce, Tagger remained focused on her artistic career. She also served in the ATS (Auxiliary Territorial Service) and the Haganah during World War II.
Tagger is known for her watercolor and oil paintings depicting daily life in Eretz Yisrael, and she later added stained glass to her artistic creations. In 1977, she was honored as a Yakir of Tel Aviv-Yafo for her contribution to the arts, and a street was named after her.
Her artistic style evolves from orientalist influences to a more contemporary depiction of Israel's pioneers and public figures. She remains true to her Sephardic roots, depicting portraits of women from her own family and circle, such as in her portrait of her sister Shoshana.
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Siona Tagger has marked the history of Israeli art by her transition from an orientalist tradition to a more modern and personal vision. Her artistic engagement and her representations of Israeli daily life, as well as her portraits of Sephardic women, testify to her lasting influence on Israeli art. Her recognition as a Yakir of Tel Aviv-Yafo and the durability of her work in the streets and galleries are testament to her impact.
His legacy is preserved through his works exhibited in various museums and galleries, and continues to inspire art lovers around the world.
