Jose Cisneros

Jose Cisneros (1919-2009) was an illustrator and historian. He gained international reputation with pen-and-ink illustrations of Mexican, American and Spanish history. Born in Villa Ocampo, Durango, in 1910, the family was forced to leave Mexico during the Mexican Revolution and eventually settled in El Paso-Juárez in 1925. Cisneros taught himself to read, write, draw and paint. He dropped out of the Lydia Patterson Institute after 5th grade to work in a grocery store to support his family. He then worked in a department store where he met his wife Vicenta, with whom he had five daughters. He enlisted in the Army and painted buses for El Paso Electric Co. and El Paso City Lines. At night, he worked in his studio. Although Cisneros experienced cruelty and many setbacks during his childhood, these personal memories did not shape his artistic vision. Instead, he focused on centuries-old subjects: Color-blind since birth, Cisneros illustrated more than 300 historical books and publications. Stories of the United States-Mexico border and the Southwest burst alive with Cisneros' touch and meticulous attention to detail. His favorite subjects were pen-and-ink drawings of horses and Spanish horsemen. He is regarded as a legend for his sketches of Spanish conquistadores, Franciscan missionaries, frontier settlers and Apache warriors. For example, he drew Juan de Onate and the historic missions San Elizario and Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe (they can be viewed on the Digital Wall database as well). Cisnero is regarded as essential in bringing Southwestern history alive and in commemorating it. He won numerous awards; among them the National Humanities Medal for his work as an artist and historian (awarded by President Bush in 2002), and the National Cowboy Hall of Fame Wrangler Award in 1985 for his book, "Riders Across the Centuries." Cisneros was also given Mexico's Ohtli award, which is presented to a person whose efforts improve the lives of Mexican nationals living abroad. In 1991, King Juan Carlos of Spain knighted Cisneros for his contribution to the understanding of history through his art. Timid about speaking in public, Cisneros was a devout Catholic who went to Mass daily. The El Paso artist Tom Lea was one of his friends, and he also advised John Houser, creator of "The Equestrian" sculpture at El Paso International Airport. Colleagues, collectors and political leaders have named him one of the most influential artists ever to emerge from the Southwest. The modest, disciplined and humanitarian artist died with 99 years of age in El Paso. Sources: http://www.elpasotimes.com/insideelpaso/ci13377449 http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci13792913

Area: Central / Downtown

Source: C.L. Sonnichsen Special Collections, University of Texas at El Paso Library. Collection Name: MS241 Jose Cisneros. Photo ID: JoseCisneros_UTEP-seal.