Sigismunds Vidbergs came from an upper middle class family in Jelgava, where his father was a civil servant.
Subsequently, he received a scholarship intended to let him travel abroad to pursue further art studies, but the outbreak of World War I made it impossible.
After the Latvian War of Independence he returned to his native country, and in 1921 an exhibition was held with the works of Vidbergs in Latvia.
Following the second occupation of Latvia by the Soviet Union, Vidbergs fled the country and eventually settled in the United States.
Stylistically, he was early on influenced by Félix Vallotton and much of his graphic art displays similarities with the works of Aubrey Beardsley.