Elias Mandel Grossman was born in Kobryn, Russia, and emigrated to America. Despite the Depression, Grossman managed to make a living as a painter and lithographer for The Works Progress Administration, a New Deal initiative. He traveled extensively to Europe and Israel, capturing global architecture and urban life in etchings. Having studied at Educational Alliance Art School, The Cooper Union, and The Art Students’ League of New York, Grossman was well-trained, resulting in his inclusion in numerous public collections and libraries in the United States.