Raphael Soyer (December 25, 1899 – November 4, 1987) was a Russian-born American painter, draftsman, and printmaker. He is identified as a Social Realist because of his interest in men and women viewed in contemporary settings which included the streets, subways, salons and artists’ studios of New York City. He also wrote several books on his life and art.
He was adamant in his belief in representational art and strongly opposed the dominant force of abstract art during the late 1940s and early 1950s. Defending his position, he stated: “I choose to be a realist and a humanist in art.” He was an artist of the Great Depression.
Among Soyer’s portrait subjects were artists and writers who were his friends; these included Allen Ginsberg, Arshile Gorky, Chaim Gross, Gitel Steed and Edward Hopper.
[image_with_animation image_url=”8901″ alignment=”” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] Last night’s Big League Show was a Big League success, due to the generous contributions of many. There were 198 artworks from 70 artists, and we estimate 150 people attended the reception. The quality of the work was excellent, widely varied in style and content, and incredibly interesting. There …
Day 28 of our 30 Day January Challenge was to transcribe Maharana Sarup Singh Inspects a Prize Stallion, by Mewar. Honestly, I hadn’t given it much thought, but one of our artists did. Soon after the challenge was posted, I received an email from Dorothy Richards. Her letter is shared below, with permission. Birthday gift? …
People are still posting work for our 30 day January challenge, in which artists are invited to respond to a daily prompt posted on our V. Notes blog. Unlike other drawing challenges, these prompts are wildly varied, open to non-typical materials around us, and are designed to feed a broad spectrum of creative skills at …
[image_with_animation image_url=”10166″ alignment=”center” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] Max Ernst “Painting is not for me either decorative amusement, or the plastic invention of felt reality; it must be every time: invention, discovery, revelation.” – Max Ernst Max Ernst used texture rubbings to overcome his fear of the white canvas, igniting his imagination. He often put paper to the worn …
Raphael Soyer
Raphael Soyer (December 25, 1899 – November 4, 1987) was a Russian-born American painter, draftsman, and printmaker. He is identified as a Social Realist because of his interest in men and women viewed in contemporary settings which included the streets, subways, salons and artists’ studios of New York City. He also wrote several books on his life and art.
He was adamant in his belief in representational art and strongly opposed the dominant force of abstract art during the late 1940s and early 1950s. Defending his position, he stated: “I choose to be a realist and a humanist in art.” He was an artist of the Great Depression.
Among Soyer’s portrait subjects were artists and writers who were his friends; these included Allen Ginsberg, Arshile Gorky, Chaim Gross, Gitel Steed and Edward Hopper.
(source: wikipedia)
Related Posts
Big League Art Show
[image_with_animation image_url=”8901″ alignment=”” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] Last night’s Big League Show was a Big League success, due to the generous contributions of many. There were 198 artworks from 70 artists, and we estimate 150 people attended the reception. The quality of the work was excellent, widely varied in style and content, and incredibly interesting. There …
30SAL Faves: Transcribe an Indian Mini
Day 28 of our 30 Day January Challenge was to transcribe Maharana Sarup Singh Inspects a Prize Stallion, by Mewar. Honestly, I hadn’t given it much thought, but one of our artists did. Soon after the challenge was posted, I received an email from Dorothy Richards. Her letter is shared below, with permission. Birthday gift? …
30SAL Challenge Faves: Week 2
People are still posting work for our 30 day January challenge, in which artists are invited to respond to a daily prompt posted on our V. Notes blog. Unlike other drawing challenges, these prompts are wildly varied, open to non-typical materials around us, and are designed to feed a broad spectrum of creative skills at …
SAL Challenge: Frottage
[image_with_animation image_url=”10166″ alignment=”center” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] Max Ernst “Painting is not for me either decorative amusement, or the plastic invention of felt reality; it must be every time: invention, discovery, revelation.” – Max Ernst Max Ernst used texture rubbings to overcome his fear of the white canvas, igniting his imagination. He often put paper to the worn …