The Statue of Liberty beckons in this inspired dated 1949 fine-art exhibited watercolor by the Russian/American artist Vladimir Yoffe, who was an active New York City WPA artist and art deco designer in the 1930s and 40s. A colorful sunrise is captured in this moody, ominous city-scape, which shows lower Manhattan’s picturesque skyline greeting the day as the bustling urban neighborhoods of the garment and meatpacking districts are obscured in a cloud of industrial steam. The artist emigrated from Russia to New York City during the lean years of the Great Depression and his deeply personal relationship with the city is on display in this landscape work. The artist created numerous commissioned paintings for The New Deal Federal Arts Project. His offerings included sculpture and architectural bas relief, his works were exhibited at The Whitney Museum, The Pennsylvania Academy Of Fine Arts and New York’s Metropolitan Museum. This watercolor is still housed in the original simple wood frame under glass with an unopened back. The verso shows a foil label from the Brooklyn art gallery Abraham & Strauss Inc. Picture Department.