Raphael Paul Meltsner (1905 - 1967) was born in New York City. He became closely associated with the WPA during the Great Depression and was well known for his industrial and urban scenes. Later he painted portraits of actors and performers including Carmen Miranda, Lynn Fontanne and others. In the latter part of his career he moved to the Hudson Valley and depicted scenes of its natural beauty.

He was awarded his first one-man exhibition at a New York City gallery in 1938. His work is included in major museum collections including the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution and others.

This untitled rural scene is a strong representative late-period Paul Meltsner landscape - an example of mid-century American Regionalist painting, most likely Catskills and Hudson Valley where Meltsner spent time.