“He was born in Borisoglebsk, Russia on December 25, 1899 to a large, impoverished Jewish family. Soyer’s father was a Hebrew teacher and writer and encouraged his children to explore artistic and intellectual pursuits. Moses’s twin, Raphael Soyer, and younger brother, Isaac, also became successful artists.” (1)
“In 1912, the Soyers emigrated to the United States and eventually settled in New York City.” (2)
“Moses Soyer studied art at Cooper Union and the National Academy of Design, but left in favor of a more informal curriculum at the Ferrer Art School in Spanish Harlem, where many of his teachers ascribed to the Ashcan school of art.” (1)
“Known primarily for his drawings and oil paintings, Soyer had his first solo exhibition in 1926 and was awarded a scholarship enabling him to travel to Europe to study drawing. During the 1930s, when the United States was at the height of the Great Depression, the Works Progress Administration, a part of the New Deal, commissioned Soyer to paint murals in government buildings throughout the country.” (3)
“Together, Moses and his twin worked on some large projects, such as a mural commissioned by the Works Projects Administration for the Kingsessing Station Post Office in Philadelphia.
After the Depression, Soyer tended towards ballet subjects, reminiscent of Degas, yet his work retained his own personal style of conveying sentimental moods. His paintings remained popular throughout his life. Soyer died in 1974.” (2)
Reference
1.
Jewish Virtual Library Staff. Moses Soyer (1899-1974) [internet]. 2019 [cited 2019 Jul 30]. Available from: https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/moses-soyer
2.
Askart Staff. Biography from the Archives of askART [internet]. [cited 2019 Jul 30]. Available from: http://www.askart.com/artist_bio/Moses_Soyer/24157/Moses_Soyer.aspx
3.
The Phillips Collection Staff. Moses Soyer (1899-1974) [internet]. [cited 2019 Jul 30]. Available from: https://www.phillipscollection.org/research/american_art/bios/soyer_m-bio.htm