Isaac Soyer
Encyclopedia
Isaac Soyer was a social realist painter
and often portrayed working-class people of New York City
in his paintings.
and Raphael Soyer
, both twins. In 1912, his parents emigrated to New York. In his life, he has created several paintings, the most notable being Employment Agency.
A WPA
artist, Soyer's "Employment Agency" reveals the social realities of the years of the Great Depression
.
Soyer worked at a number of institutions in his life, mostly teaching art:
Isaac Soyer painted portraits of friends and relatives and vignettes of working-class life. Several of his principal works are in the collections of important museums such as the Whitney Museum of American Art
, the Brooklyn Museum
, the Albright-Knox Art Gallery
, Buffalo, New York
, and the Dallas Museum of Art
.
Soyer died of a heart attack at Lenox Hill Hospital on July 8, 1981 at age 79 and was residing in Manhattan at the time.
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
and often portrayed working-class people of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in his paintings.
Biography
He was the youngest of three siblings, the others being Moses SoyerMoses Soyer
-Biography:Soyer was born in Borisoglebsk, Russia in 1899. His father was a Hebrew scholar, writer and teacher. His family emigrated to the USA in 1912. Soyer's brothers, Raphael and Isaac were also painters...
and Raphael Soyer
Raphael Soyer
Raphael Soyer was a Russian-born American painter, draftsman, and printmaker. Soyer was referred to as an American scene painter...
, both twins. In 1912, his parents emigrated to New York. In his life, he has created several paintings, the most notable being Employment Agency.
A WPA
Works Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...
artist, Soyer's "Employment Agency" reveals the social realities of the years of the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
.
Soyer worked at a number of institutions in his life, mostly teaching art:
- Bell Aircraft Corporation in Buffalo, New YorkBuffalo, New YorkBuffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
during World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis... - Albright Art School at Buffalo, New York during the years 1941-44
- Art Institute of BuffaloArt Institute of BuffaloThe Art Institute of Buffalo was an art school in Buffalo, New York. It opened its doors in 1931, and continued to produce graduates until the Institute closed in 1956. The faculty included a number of well-known artists...
and Niagara FallsNiagara FallsThe Niagara Falls, located on the Niagara River draining Lake Erie into Lake Ontario, is the collective name for the Horseshoe Falls and the adjacent American Falls along with the comparatively small Bridal Veil Falls, which combined form the highest flow rate of any waterfalls in the world and has...
Art School during the 1940s - Educational Alliance Art School in New York during the 1950s
- New School for Social Research in 1968
- Art Students League of New YorkArt Students League of New YorkThe Art Students League of New York is an art school located on West 57th Street in New York City. The League has historically been known for its broad appeal to both amateurs and professional artists, and has maintained for over 130 years a tradition of offering reasonably priced classes on a...
in 1969
Isaac Soyer painted portraits of friends and relatives and vignettes of working-class life. Several of his principal works are in the collections of important museums such as the Whitney Museum of American Art
Whitney Museum of American Art
The Whitney Museum of American Art, often referred to simply as "the Whitney", is an art museum with a focus on 20th- and 21st-century American art. Located at 945 Madison Avenue at 75th Street in New York City, the Whitney's permanent collection contains more than 18,000 works in a wide variety of...
, the Brooklyn Museum
Brooklyn Museum
The Brooklyn Museum is an encyclopedia art museum located in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. At 560,000 square feet, the museum holds New York City's second largest art collection with roughly 1.5 million works....
, the Albright-Knox Art Gallery
Albright-Knox Art Gallery
The Albright-Knox Art Gallery is an art museum located in Delaware Park in Buffalo, New York. The gallery is a major showplace for modern art and contemporary art. It is located directly across the street from Buffalo State College.-History:...
, Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, and the Dallas Museum of Art
Dallas Museum of Art
The Dallas Museum of Art is a major art museum located in the Arts District of downtown Dallas, Texas, USA, along Woodall Rodgers Freeway between St. Paul and Harwood. In 1984, the museum moved from its previous location in Fair Park to the Arts District, Dallas, Texas...
.
Soyer died of a heart attack at Lenox Hill Hospital on July 8, 1981 at age 79 and was residing in Manhattan at the time.