Artwork

Untitled

Untitled, by Raphael Soyer, ink, 1935
Untitled, by Raphael Soyer, ink, 1935

Untitled is an ink print by Raphael Soyer. It dates from 1935 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.

About this work

Overview

Raphael Soyer's Untitled is a lithograph created circa 1935. It depicts a group of men gathered around a small table, conveying a sense of tension and urgency.

Subject & Meaning

The print shows five men in close proximity, wearing caps and coats, with one holding a cup and another a piece of bread. Their tired or worried expressions suggest a scene of hardship or difficult circumstances.

Technique & Style

Soyer's use of quick, rough lines and a dark background emphasizes the figures' tense faces and hands, creating a sense of drama. The lithograph's style is characteristic of Soyer's socially engaged practice, which focused on everyday people in modern environments.

Context

As a Russian-born American artist associated with the American Scene movement and Social Realism, Soyer's work often portrayed contemporary urban life, particularly in New York City settings.

Artist & collection

Artist

Raphael Soyer

Raphael Zalman Soyer (December 25, 1899 – November 4, 1987) was a Russian-born American painter, draftsman, and printmaker.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Museum of Modern Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.