Abraham Walkowitz was an early American Modernist painter. Born in Siberia, Walkowitz and his mother emigrated to New York when he was very young. His first professional job was as a sign painter, but Walkowitz had been drawing since an early age. To gain a formal training, in 1906 he went to Europe to attend the Académie Julian. Through introductions made by Max Weber, it was here that he met Isadora Duncan in Auguste Rodin's studio, the modern American dancer who had captured the attention of the avant-garde. Walkowitz went on to produce more than 5,000 drawings of Duncan.