Soyer

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Soyer three brothers, American painters, emigrated with their family from Russia in 1912. Two were twins, Raphael Soyer, 1899–1987, and Moses Soyer, 1899–1974, b. Borisoglebsk. They settled in New York City making its inhabitants the chief subject of their paintings. They concentrated on the depiction of the natural attitudes, thoughts, and gestures of individuals in the performance of habitual tasks. Raphael's subdued, realistic style expresses an intimate sympathy for people, as in Office Workers (Whitney Mus., New York City) or in his portraits, e.g., Mina (Metropolitan Mus.). Moses' figures are usually presented in higher-keyed color or sharper contrasts of black and white, as in The Old Worker (Phillips Memorial Gall., Washington, D.C.). Their younger brother, Isaac Soyer, 1907–81, b. Borisoglebsk, also specialized in everyday figure scenes. His Employment Agency (Whitney Mus., New York City) reveals the social realities of the depression years. The Soyers' concern with people and their environment places them within the tradition of American realism established by Winslow Homer , Thomas Eakins , and the Eight .

Bibliography: See R. Soyer's memoirs, Self-Revealment (1969); biography by L. Goodrich (1972); S. Cole, Jr., ed., Fifty Years of Printmaking (1967); biography of Moses Soyer by B. Smith and C. Willard (1944).

Soyer, Moses (1899–1974) and Soyer, Raphael (1899–1987). Russian-born painters, twins, who became American citizens in 1925. They were born in Borisoglebsk, emigrated to America with their family in 1913, and studied at various art schools in New York. They are best known for their Social Realist subjects, particularly those of the Depression years of the 1930s, in which they depicted the lives of working people with sympathy and at times a touching air of melancholy, as in Raphael's well-known Office Girls (Whitney Museum, New York, 1936). From 1936 they were employed by the Federal Art Project, their work including collaborating on murals for the Post Office at Kingsessing, Pennsylvania (1939). Both brothers also did many self-portraits and wrote on art. In the 1930s Moses wrote articles defending Social Realism and attacking Regionalism. Raphael published several autobiographical volumes and a book on Thomas Eakins (1966). He taught at the Art Students League, 1933–42, and at other schools in New York. Another brother, Isaac (1907–1981), who came to America in 1914, was also a painter.

Soyer, Moses (b Borisoglebsk, 25 Dec. 1899; d New York, 2 Sept. 1974) and Raphael (d New York, 4 Nov. 1987). Russian-born painters, twins, who emigrated to America in 1912 and became US citizens in 1925. They are best known for their Social Realist subjects, particularly those of the Depression years of the 1930s, in which they depicted the lives of working people with sympathy and at times a touching air of melancholy, as in Raphael's well-known Office Girls (1936, Whitney Mus., New York). Both brothers also did many self-portraits and wrote on art. Moses wrote articles defending Social Realism and attacking Regionalism; Raphael published several autobiographical volumes and a book on Thomas Eakins (1966). Another brother, Isaac (1907–81), who moved to America in 1914, was also a painter.

Soyer, Moses (1899–1974) and Raphael (1899–1987). Russian-born painters, twins, who emigrated to America in 1912 and became US citizens in 1925. They are best known for their Social Realist subjects, particularly those of the Depression years of the 1930s, in which they depicted the lives of working people with sympathy and at times a touching air of melancholy, as in Raphael's well-known Office Girls (1936, Whitney Mus., New York). Both brothers also did many self-portraits and wrote on art. Moses wrote articles defending Social Realism and attacking Regionalism; Raphael published several autobiographical volumes and a book on Thomas Eakins (1966). Another brother, Isaac (1907–81), who moved to America in 1914, was also a painter.