Raphael Soyer
American, born Russia, 1899 - 1987Self-Portrait, n.d.
Not on view
Lithograph on paper
Dimensions16 3/16 × 12 3/16 in. (41.1 × 31 cm)
Image: 9 15/16 × 7 in. (25.2 × 17.8 cm)
Gift of Mr. Jack B. Pierson in memory of Mr. Robert Martin Purcell, 1979.137
Throughout his career, Raphael Soyer portrayed the daily life of New York's 14th Street and Lower East Side. Bowery bums, salesclerks, shoppers, dancers, seamstresses, and other "ordinary" people were his favorite subjects. Soyer also created a great number of self-portraits, including this portrait of the artist.
Born in Tombov, Russia, Soyer moved with his family to New York City in 1912. As children he and his identical twin, Moses, and younger brother, Isaac, were encouraged to draw by their parents. All three went on to become professional artists. As youths, the brothers worked in factories and sold newspapers to make a living. Raphael received his training from Cooper Union, the National Academy of Design, and the Art Students League.
