Francis De Erdely (1901–1959) painted ordinary people—musicians, dancers, laborers, outsiders—paying special attention to their physicality, a focus that quietly raised questions about race, culture, and social divisions. The Hungarian artist moved to the U.S. during W.W. II, and went on to capture a Social Realist moment in Southern California. De Erdely’s paintings can feel like historical documents, but their empathy makes them timeless as well. —Clara Molot