Simka Simkhovitch (1893–1949) was a Russian-born artist known for his masterful draftsmanship and romantic, fairy-tale-inspired compositions. Born near Kiev, then part of Russia, he spent a year bedridden with severe measles at age seven. To amuse himself, he sketched an old mill outside his window, an experience that sparked his lifelong passion for art. He studied at an art school in Odessa and was recommended for the prestigious Imperial Academy of St. Petersburg, though he was conscripted into the army before attending. His early works were displayed at the Museum of Revolution in Leningrad. He resumed his studies in 1914, graduating in 1918, and in 1924 traveled to the United States to illustrate Soviet textbooks, soon gaining U.S. citizenship.

In America, Simkhovitch quickly became part of the art world. Galleries including Midtown Galleries and Marie Sterner represented him, and he was employed by the WPA, completing major mural commissions such as the Mississippi Court House. Life magazine profiled him twice, highlighting his contributions. Though he died young, the Whitney Museum of Art offered a retrospective, which his widow declined, placing his works in storage.

Simkhovitch’s art combined classical composition with romantic sensibilities. His works often feature intricate, well-managed counterpoints, yet at heart, he remained a romanticist, favoring the luminous, dreamy colors reminiscent of Russian fairy tales.