Nude with Green Stockings c. 1965

This drawing, Nude with Green Stockings, was made by Moses Soyer using what looks like graphite and pastel. You can see the process so clearly in the smudging and layering of colors. The paper is so present here. The pastel sits on top of it, creating this soft, almost dreamlike texture. Look how the blue and purple hues around the figure create a sense of depth, while the red of the hair pops, drawing your eye right to it. It feels casual, yet so considered. I can imagine Soyer making quick decisions here, letting the pastels glide across the surface. This piece reminds me of Degas, but with a more intimate touch. Both artists capture the body in repose, but Soyer's feels more personal, more about the feeling of being in that moment. It’s like a visual poem, full of quiet beauty and open for interpretation.