Background
She was born in Brooklyn, New York to Joseph and Rebecca Block, who had both immigrated to the United States in 1888 and 1889, respectively, from Russia and together they ran an import business.
She was born in Brooklyn, New York to Joseph and Rebecca Block, who had both immigrated to the United States in 1888 and 1889, respectively, from Russia and together they ran an import business.
Dorothy Josephine and Lilian Jeanette, who would both become artists, attended Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, Virginia. Both sisters were members of the Sky High Club. Dorothy was a member of the school"s art club
Dorothy and Lilian studied art under their maternal uncle, painter and sculptor Louis Keila.
Dorothy studied under William von Schlegell at the Art Students League of New York, which she attended between 1920 and 1930. Block was a friend and correspondent of Brooklyn painter and printmaker Lena Gurr, who attended the Art Students League from 1920 to 1922.
She taught at the Art Students League and participated in the Federal Art Project, including writing a memoir about her experience as an artist in the early 20th century. Her sister, Lilian Block MacKendrick, was also an artist. They had three daughters, Ethel, Dorothy, and Lilian.
Joseph Block had a financial interest and was vice president and general manager of the Franco Electric Company until 1921.
He had a number of patents for decorative electric devices. In 1920, the family lived in the Hotel Touraine in Brooklyn and Joseph was an executive with Electrical Corporation.
She worked at Art Students League and as part of the Progress Administration Federal Art Project, including having written Reminiscences of an Artist about the Federal Art Project.
Both sisters were members of the Sky High Club. Dorothy was a member of the school"s art club