Modern Graphite Drawing Appraisal

Sleeping Woman, Modern Graphite Drawing on Paper by Raphael Soyer

This is a modern graphite drawing on paper titled 'Sleeping Woman' by the artist Raphael Soyer, created in the Mid-20th Century. The artwork depicts a figure, presumably a woman, in a reclining or sleeping posture, rendered with graphite on what appears to be off-white or cream-colored paper. The lines are visible, indicating the use of graphite, and the shading suggests volume and form, typical of drawing techniques. The style appears to be representational with a sensitive, perhaps somewhat melancholic, tone. The figure is rendered with soft contours, and there are visible sketch lines, indicating a likely study or a piece where the artist's hand is intentionally evident. The overall composition is focused on the human form, characteristic of Soyer's work, which often featured intimate portraits and figures. No overt damage or wear is discernible from the image, but the typical aging of paper from the Mid-20th Century might include slight toning or minor foxing, though not clearly visible here. The craftsmanship appears to be of fine art quality, showcasing the artist's skill in capturing the human form and expression with a monochromatic medium. There are no visible maker's marks or signatures in the provided cropped image, but it is attributed to Raphael Soyer and dated to the Mid-20th Century.