From 1924 to 1939 Jo Spier worked for the newspaper De Telegraaf where he created humorous illustrations and cartoons about everyday life.

[1] During World War II his subject matter became more political and he was arrested for his satirical depiction of Hitler.

For a period of a few months in 1943 they were protected from transport to German concentration camps, supposedly due to the influence of the leader of the pro-German Nationaal Socialistische Beweging, Anton Mussert.

On 21 April 1943 Spier was transferred to the Theresienstadt concentration camp, where he was held with his family until the end of the war.

Jo Spier moved to the United States in 1951 with his family and continued to work until the end of his life.