Raphael Gleitsmann developed a distinctive style that evolved significantly over his career despite limited formal training. Born in Dayton and spending most of his life in Akron, Ohio, he initially focused on American scene painting, depicting town squares, winter nights, and rural landscapes. He gained recognition in the 1930s and 1940s, exhibiting at prestigious venues, including the New York World's Fair, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, and Macbeth Gallery in New York.

Gleitsmann's art underwent a profound transformation after his service as a combat engineer during World War II. His post-war works shifted from idealized portrayals of American life to moody, often somber scenes. These paintings featured cemeteries, lone churches, and in the case of By the Tracks, Dennison, Ohio, ominous skies. These works reflected an introspective sensibility and a realism that contrasted with the emerging Abstract Expressionist movement.

Following notable successes, including winning first prize at the 1948 Carnegie Institute exhibition—besting the well-known Andrew Wyeth—Gleitsmann abruptly ended his painting career around 1954 at age 44. Although his work received less attention during his later years, there has been renewed interest in his art posthumously, with his unique vision and technical skill gaining new appreciation in the context of mid-20th-century American art.