Raphael Soyer (1899 Borisoglebsk, Russia - 1987 New York City), "Behind Screen", charcoal and watercolor. Signed to LR, and titled to LL.
Frame: H 29-3/4 in. W 24-1/2 in. Paper: H 19-3/4 in. W14-3/4 in.
From the Artist Bio (possible exhibition label) adhered to the verso: "Born in Russia in 1899, Soyer and his brothers Moses and Isaac were taught to draw by their father. By the time the family arrived in the United States, Raphael was drawing constantly. He studied at the Art Students League with Guy Pene de Bois, and at Cooper Union and the National Academy.
Soyer has said, "My art is representational by choice. In my opinion, if the art of painting is to survive, it must describe and express people, their lives and times." For the artist this has meant the street scenes and the people of Manhattan's lower east side. Roland F. Pease, Jr., says, "His style has not measurably changed over the years; it is sharply realistic, poignant, sympathetic." Soyer has won many prizes and awards, including Honorable Mention Award, Carnegie Institute, three times; the W.A. Clarke prize, Corcoran Gallery of Art; Kohnstonn Prize — Harris Hold Medal, Art Institute of Chicago; Temple Gold Medal, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts; first prize, ART: USA: 59. His works are in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art, the Metropolitan Museum, Whitney Museum, Detroit Museum, Wadsworth Atheneum, and the Corcoran Gallery."

Overall excellent.