Hans Jurgis Preiss (1904–1984) was born in Königsberg and studied in the local Academy of Fine Arts. However, Preiss went down in history not only as an artist but also as a foreign intelligence service agent, who gathered intelligence for the Soviet Union and was extremely captivated by revolutionary ideas. He engaged into political struggle together with his first wife Gertrude Genisse — an intelligence officer and convinced communist.

Together with his wife, the artist travelled all over Europe in 1930’s–1940’s. The travels were mostly related to political assignments, but Preiss also managed to visit many famous museums and saw original works of Rembrandt, Rubens, Velazquez and other great masters. He was greatly influenced by post-impressionists — Paul Cezanne and Van Gogh whose paintings he saw in France.

During the Great Patriotic War Preiss and his wife emigrated to the Soviet Union. Despite many years of service, they were soon exiled to Siberia, like all other Germans living in the country. After his liberation, the artist lived first in Tomsk and later in Kemerovo.

The portrait of artist and revolutionary Jose David Alfaro Siqueiros was painted in 1962 in the mature period of Preiss’ creative life. It is painted in an energetic manner and differs from his earlier works that were more intimate with sober colors. Here the author obviously emphasizes the color — the painting is based on the play of contrasts. This manner of painting conveys more accurately the passionate and charismatic nature of Siqueiros himself — a Mexican activist, communist and a hero of Preiss’ youth.

In many ways, the painting echoes works of the fauvists, with Henri Matisse as their most famous representative. Authors of this school were called wild, so bright and dynamic were their works.

Preiss also used sharp contours to delineate the face of the political activist, emphasize his energy and uncompromising stand. Dynamic brushstrokes and somewhat hurried drawing serve the same purpose. The artist achieved special intensity with a bright contrasting background — he used active colors, portrayed the image in simple contours and gave up depth in favor of dynamics.