Soyer, Raphael, 1899-1987

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Soyer was a painter; New York, N.Y.

From the description of Artists' statement, 1947. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122394893

Painter.

From the description of Raphael Soyer papers, 1949-1954. (Cornell University Library). WorldCat record id: 63935130

Raphael Soyer, 1899-1987, painter of New York, N.Y.

From the description of Oral history interview with Raphael Soyer, 1981 May 13-June 1. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 657038622

From the description of Oral history interview Raphael Soyer, 1981 May 13-June 1. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 646396902

Raphael Soyer was a painter.

From the guide to the Raphael Soyer papers, 1949-1954., (Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library)

Painter (New York, N.Y.).

From the description of Oral history interview Raphael Soyer, 1981 May 13-1981 June 1. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 84201814

Raphael Soyer (1899-1987) was a painter and printmaker in New York, N.Y.

Born in Tombov (or Borisoglebsk), Russia, Soyer was one of six siblings, including twin Moses, and brothers Isaac and Israel, who were encouraged in their art work by their father, a teacher of Hebrew literature. Raphael Soyer studied drawing and painting at the Cooper Union, at the National Academy of Design, ca. 1919, and with Guy Pene Du Bois at the Art Students League. His first one-man show was at the Daniel Gallery in 1929. He became noted for his prints and paintings of social realism during the Depression, and taught at the Art Students League, The New School, and at the National Academy of Design.

From the description of Raphael Soyer papers, 1933-1989. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 220233716

Painter; New York, N.Y.

Noted for his social realism in painting.

From the description of Raphael Soyer lecture, 1960. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122355184

Raphael Soyer (1899-1987) and his twin brother Moses (1899-1974) were born on December 25, 1899, in the Russian town Borisoglebsk. Their father Abraham was a scholar and Hebrew teacher who encouraged all of his children to sketch and paint. After the family was deported from Russia, they settled in the Bronx, New York, in 1912. Raphael and Moses briefly attended school, but at 16 they began working various jobs to help support their family. They also began taking free art classes at Cooper Union and later Raphael attended the National Academy of Design and the Art Students League where he studied with Guy Pene du Bois. He began to show his paintings in 1926 and in 1929 gallery owner Charles Daniel gave him his first one man show. Soyer became one of the leading realist painters and printmakers, often depicting Depression-era transients, Manhattan streetscapes, shoppers, and women at work. He also painted and sketched numerous self-portraits and portraits of fellow artists and cultural figures, many of whom were also his friends, including Allen Ginsberg, Chaim Gross, Edward Hopper, and Arshile Gorky.

Beginning in the 1930s Soyer showed his work frequently at the Whitney Museum of American Art, Associated American Artists Galleries, National Collection of Fine Arts, and other national and international exhibitions. During the 1940s and 1950s he was a leading advocate of realism and spoke out against the abstract style that was dominating the New York art scene. In 1953 he co-founded Reality magazine.

Soyer joined the Forum Gallery in New York in the early 1960s and became good friends with his dealer Bella Fishko. Also during the 1960s he published three books, A Painter's Pilgrimage (1962), Homage to Thomas Eakins (1966), and Self-Revealment: a Memoir (1969), and had his first retrospective at the Whitney Museum in 1967.

Throughout his career Soyer also occasionally taught at art schools including the Art Students League and the New School. He also collaborated with his friend, writer Isaac Bashevis Singer, by illustrating several of Singer's books. Soyer and his wife Rebecca, whom he married in 1931, lived the rest of their lives in New York City, but often traveled to Europe. They had one daughter, Mary. Soyer's final book, Diary of an Artist, was published in 1977 and in 1979 he received the Gold Medal from the National Arts Club. He continued painting realist subjects until his death in 1987.

From the guide to the Raphael Soyer papers, 1933-1989, (Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Alfredo Valente papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Joseph Kaplan papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Remo Farruggio papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Isabel Bishop papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Guide to the Daily Worker and Daily World Photographs Collection, 1920-2001 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
referencedIn Abraham Harriton Papers, 1915-1965 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
creatorOf The ACA Galleries records Archives of American Art
creatorOf Jacob Getlar Smith papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf American Artists Group. Correspondence with Carl Zigrosser, 1936-1957, n.d. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf William Gropper papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Philip Evergood papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Corso, Gregory. Gregory Corso papers, 1949-1996. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
creatorOf Soyer, Raphael, 1899-1987. Artist file : miscellaneous uncataloged material. Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)
referencedIn Lenore Seroka photographs Archives of American Art
referencedIn Roko Gallery records Archives of American Art
creatorOf Guy Pène Du Bois papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Artists' statement Archives of American Art
creatorOf Raphael Soyer papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn The ACA Galleries records Archives of American Art
referencedIn Harvard Art Museum. Exhibition Records, 1905-2008 Harvard Art Museums. Archives
referencedIn Eugenie Gershoy papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Marc Sandler papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Soyer, Avron. Papers, 2012. Harvard University Art Museum
creatorOf Soyer, Raphael, 1899-1987. Correspondence with Carl Zigrosser, 1932-1969. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Isabel Bishop papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Soyer, Raphael, 1899-1987. Artist file. Brooklyn Museum Libraries & Archives
creatorOf Soyer, Raphael, 1899-1987. Raphael Soyer : artist file : study photographs and reproductions of works of art with accompanying documentation 1930?-1990 [graphic] [compiled by staff of The Museum of Modern Art, New York]. Frick Art Reference Library of The Frick Collection
referencedIn Gregory Corso Papers, 1949-1996. Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Moses Soyer papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Brooklyn Museum interviews of artists Archives of American Art
creatorOf Raphael Soyer lecture Archives of American Art
referencedIn Charles Edward and Isabel Patterson Eaton Art Collection papers, 1920s-1990s. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Morawski, Walter B., 1904-1984. Offset lithographic print collection, 1938-1960. Temple University Libraries, Paley Library
referencedIn Ben Shahn papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Alfredo Valente papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Artists files, [ca. 1930]-1986. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn Will Barnet papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Diane Di Prima Papers, 1948-1971 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
creatorOf Bates, Ralph. Correspondence with Wanda Gág, 1938-1944. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Max Weber papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Max Weber papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Abraham Harriton papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Brooklyn Museum interviews of artists Archives of American Art
referencedIn Aaron Bohrod Papers, 1932-1963 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
referencedIn William Gropper papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Colette Roberts Papers and Interviews with Artists Archives of American Art
referencedIn Letter from Moses Soyer to Marilyn Mark and two snapshots Archives of American Art
referencedIn Ruth Gikow papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Lena Gurr papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Diamonstein-Spielvogel, Barbaralee. Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel collection, 1976-1999. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
creatorOf Eugenie Gershoy papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Singer, Isaac Bashevis, 1904-1991. Isaac Bashevis Singer Papers, 1775, 1923-1995. Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
referencedIn Chaim Gross Papers, 1937-1964 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
referencedIn American Federation of Arts records Archives of American Art
creatorOf Roko Gallery records Archives of American Art
referencedIn Alexander Dobkin papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Colette Roberts Papers and Interviews with Artists Archives of American Art
creatorOf Joe Shannon papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Soyer, Raphael, 1899-1987 : [miscellaneous ephemeral material]. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
creatorOf Robert Laurent papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Esther Reier letter from Raphael Soyer Archives of American Art
referencedIn George Grosz papers, 1893-1981 (inclusive) 1919-1959 (bulk). Houghton Library
creatorOf Raphael Soyer papers, 1949-1954. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.
referencedIn Smithsonian Institution. Libraries. Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden Library audio archive collection, 1969-2004. Smithsonian Institution. Libraries
referencedIn Benjamin Kopman Papers / Collection, 1911-1962 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
creatorOf Moses Soyer papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn José de Creeft papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf David Levine papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Brooklyn Museum. Listening to pictures : interviews. Brooklyn Museum Libraries & Archives
creatorOf Jack Levine papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn John Hollander Papers, circa 1950-2007 Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Soyer, Raphael, 1899-1987. [Raphael Soyer : artist file] Detroit Institute of Arts Research Library & Archives, DIA Research Library & Archives
referencedIn Rabin and Krueger Gallery Collection Newark Public Library, Main Library
creatorOf Soyer, Raphael, 1899-1987. Letter, 1965, to Lewis Mumford. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf Rudolf Baranik papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Ben Shahn papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Jacob Lawrence Papers, 1937-1971 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
referencedIn Jack Levine papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Soyer, Raphael, 1899-1987. Correspondence to Van Wyck Brooks, 1962. University of Pennsylvania Library
referencedIn Soyer, Raphael, 1899-1987 [clippings] New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Chaim Gross papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn The ACA Galleries records Archives of American Art
creatorOf Soyer, Raphael, 1899-1987. Raphael Soyer papers, 1949-1954. Cornell University Library
referencedIn Soyer, Raphael : Biographical file. Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center
referencedIn Yaddo records, 1870-1980 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Oral history interview with Raphael Soyer Archives of American Art
referencedIn Oral history interview with Chaim Gross Archives of American Art
referencedIn Oral history interview with Isabel Bishop Archives of American Art
creatorOf Karl E. Fortess interviews with artists Archives of American Art
referencedIn Oral history interview with Lillian Orlowsky Archives of American Art
Relation Name
associatedWith ACA Galleries. corporateBody
associatedWith Ahlas, Lambro person
associatedWith Ahlas, Lambro. person
associatedWith American Artists Group. corporateBody
associatedWith American Federation of Arts. corporateBody
associatedWith Baranik, Rudolf person
associatedWith Baranik, Rudolf. person
associatedWith Barnet, Will, 1911- person
associatedWith Biddle, George, 1885- person
associatedWith Bishop, Isabel, 1902-1988. person
associatedWith Bohrod, Aaron. person
associatedWith Bratby, John, 1928- person
associatedWith Brooklyn Museum. corporateBody
associatedWith Brown, Milton W. (Milton Wolf), 1911-1998 person
associatedWith Burliuk, David, 1882-1967. person
associatedWith Communist Party of the United States of America. corporateBody
associatedWith Corso, Gregory. person
associatedWith De Creeft, José, 1884-1982. person
associatedWith De Francia, Peter person
associatedWith De Francia, Peter. person
associatedWith Detroit Institute of Arts Research Library & Archives. corporateBody
associatedWith Diamonstein-Spielvogel, Barbaralee. person
associatedWith Di Prima, Diane, Archives person
associatedWith Dobkin, Alexander, 1908-1975. person
associatedWith Du Bois, Guy Pène, 1884-1958. person
associatedWith Eugenie Gershoy person
associatedWith Evergood, Philip, 1901-1973. person
associatedWith Farruggio, Remo, 1906-1981. person
associatedWith Fortess, Karl E. (Karl Eugene), 1907- person
associatedWith Gershoy, Eugenie, 1901?-1983 or 6. person
associatedWith Gikow, Ruth, 1915-1982. person
associatedWith Goodrich, Lloyd, 1897- person
associatedWith Gorky, Arshile, 1904-1948. person
associatedWith Gottlieb, Adolph, 1903-1974. person
associatedWith Gropper, William person
associatedWith Gropper, William, 1897- person
associatedWith Gross, Chaim, 1904-1991 person
correspondedWith Grosz, George, 1893-1959 person
associatedWith Gurr, Lena, 1897-1992. person
associatedWith Harriton, Abraham, 1893-1986 person
associatedWith Harriton, Abraham, 1893-1987. person
associatedWith Harvard Art Museum Archives corporateBody
associatedWith Hirsch, Joseph, 1910- person
associatedWith Hirsch, Joseph, 1910-1981. person
associatedWith Hirshhorn, Joseph H. person
associatedWith Hirshhorn, Joseph H. person
associatedWith Hollander, John. person
associatedWith Hopper, Edward, 1882-1967. person
associatedWith Kaplan, Joseph, 1900-1980. person
associatedWith Kopman, Benjamin, b. 1887 person
associatedWith Kuniyoshi, Yasuo, 1889-1953. person
associatedWith Lasker, Joe. person
associatedWith Laurent, Robert, 1890-1970. person
associatedWith Lawrence, Jacob, 1917-2000 person
associatedWith Lena Gurr person
associatedWith Levine, David, 1926- person
associatedWith Levine, Jack, 1915-2010. person
associatedWith Mark, Marilyn Sabetsky, 1930- person
associatedWith Morawski, Walter B., 1904-1984. person
associatedWith Museum of Modern Art (New York, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Orlowsky, Lillian, 1914- person
associatedWith Pène du Bois, Guy, 1884-1958. person
associatedWith Poor, Henry Varnum, 1887-1970. person
associatedWith Reier, Esther. person
associatedWith Roberts, Colette, 1910- person
associatedWith Roko Gallery corporateBody
associatedWith Roko Gallery (New York, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Sandler, Marc, 1907-1968. person
associatedWith Seroka, Lenore. person
associatedWith Shahn, Ben, 1898-1969. person
associatedWith Shannon, Joe. person
associatedWith Singer, Isaac Bashevis, 1904- person
associatedWith Singer, Isaac Bashevis, 1904-1991. person
associatedWith Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture. corporateBody
associatedWith Sloan, John, 1871-1951. person
associatedWith Smith, Jacob Getlar, 1898-1958. person
associatedWith Soyer, Avron. person
associatedWith Soyer, Moses, 1899-1974. person
associatedWith Stella, Joseph, 1877-1946. person
associatedWith Valente, Alfredo. person
associatedWith Weber, Max person
associatedWith Weber, Max, 1881-1961. person
associatedWith Whitney Museum of American Art. corporateBody
associatedWith Yaddo (Artist's colony) corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
New York (State)--New York
New York (State)--New York
New York (State)--New York
United States
New York (State)--New York
New York (State)--New York
New York (State)--New York
Subject
Abstract expressionism
Art, American
Art
Art
Artists
Artists
Artists' statements
Authors
Authors
Painters
Painters
Painters
Painting, American
Printmakers
Printmakers
Realism in art
Social realism
Social realism
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1899-12-25

Death 1987-11-04

Americans

Information

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SNAC ID: 7183932