Study for Moses - Trinity Church, Boston 1876

John La Farge created this study for Moses at Trinity Church in Boston using graphite on paper. The composition is dominated by the figure of Moses, rendered with varying degrees of detail which suggests an intentional incompleteness. La Farge uses line to delineate form, yet leaves much of the figure ethereal, particularly around the head and upper body. Strong vertical lines in the lower portion articulate the drapery, creating a sense of weight and grounding. The contrast between the defined lower half and the more spectral upper half creates a visual tension. This incompleteness invites interpretation. It reflects an interest in the symbolist movement that values suggestion over explicit representation. Moses, a figure of immense historical and religious importance, is presented here not as a static icon, but as a being caught in a state of becoming. The lines invite a visual interpretation that destabilizes fixed meanings, allowing a more fluid, interpretive understanding of Moses.