Soyer, Moses, 1899-1974

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Artist.

From the description of Reminiscences of Moses Soyer : oral history, 1961. (Columbia University In the City of New York). WorldCat record id: 309734886

Painter; New York, N.Y.

Noted for social realism.

From the description of Moses Soyer papers, circa 1905-1974. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 220236743

Painter; New York, N.Y.

Noted for social realism.

From the description of Moses Soyer letter, [undated]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122515798

Moses Soyer (1899-1974) and his twin brother Raphael (1899-1987) were born on December 25, 1899, in the Russian town Borisoglebsk. Their father Abraham was a scholar and Hebrew teacher who encouraged all of his children to sketch and paint. After the family was deported from Russia, they settled in the Bronx, New York, in 1912. Moses and Raphael briefly attended school, but at 16 they began working various jobs to help support their family. They also began taking free art classes at Cooper Union and for a brief time at the National Academy of Design. Moses then enrolled at the Educational Alliance Art School where he met close friend Chaim Gross. He participated in his first exhibition in 1923 and also taught classes at the Education Alliance Art School until 1926 when he received a traveling scholarship to Europe.

Before leaving for Europe, Soyer married Ida, a former student and dancer. They spent most of their time during the next two years in France. Their son David was born in 1928. Shortly after his birth they returned to the New York City where Moses found greater inspiration for his social-realist paintings. During the Depression, he was commissioned to do artwork for the WPA and for the Federal Arts Project, depicting people doing everyday tasks. During this time Soyer also taught classes at the Contemporary Art School and the New School for Social Research.

Throughout the 1940s and 1950s Soyer continued with this subject matter, even as the abstract art movement became more prominent. Speaking out against abstract art as well as regionalism, he exhibited his work constantly, becoming a significant figure in the social realist movement. His work was represented by the American Contemporary Art (ACA) Gallery beginning in 1944, and he was also a member of several art organizations, including the Artists Equity Association. He was elected to the National Academy of Design in 1963 and to the National Institute of Arts and Letters in 1966. Soyer's later work focused on more sensitive portrayals of the female figure, especially dancers. He also painted portraits, including many of his artist friends such as Chaim Gross, Joseph Stella, and David Burliuk. He illustrated several books, including the First Book of Ballet and wrote Painting the Human Figure, which was published in 1964. Soyer continued to paint until his death in 1974.

From the guide to the Moses Soyer papers, circa 1905-1974, (Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Soyer, Moses : Biographical file. Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center
referencedIn Alfredo Valente papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Brooklyn Museum. Listening to pictures : interviews. Brooklyn Museum Libraries & Archives
referencedIn Soyer, Moses, 1899-1974 : [miscellaneous ephemeral material]. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
referencedIn Trommer, Marie, b. 1895. Autograph collection, 1920-1951. Brooklyn Museum Libraries & Archives
creatorOf Kruse, Alexander Z., 1888-1972. Papers of Alexander Z. Kruse, 1890-1972 (bulk 1930s-1960s). Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
referencedIn Jacob Lawrence Papers, 1937-1971 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
referencedIn Eugenie Gershoy papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Eugenie Gershoy papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Abraham Walkowitz papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Soyer, Moses, 1899-1974. Reminiscences of Moses Soyer : oral history, 1961. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
creatorOf The ACA Galleries records Archives of American Art
creatorOf Abbo Ostrowsky papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Deceased members files, [ca. 1884-1985] New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn Alfredo Valente papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn The ACA Galleries records Archives of American Art
creatorOf Brooklyn Museum interviews of artists Archives of American Art
creatorOf Letter from Moses Soyer to Marilyn Mark and two snapshots Archives of American Art
referencedIn Seltzer, Leo. Moses Soyer [graphic]. Archives of American Art
referencedIn Chaim Gross papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Soyer, Moses, 1899-1974. Artist file. Brooklyn Museum Libraries & Archives
referencedIn Abe Lerner papers relating to the book MOSES SOYER Archives of American Art
creatorOf Soyer, Moses, 1899-1974. [Moses Soyer : artist file] Detroit Institute of Arts Research Library & Archives, DIA Research Library & Archives
creatorOf Moses Soyer letter Archives of American Art
referencedIn Brooklyn Museum interviews of artists Archives of American Art
creatorOf Jacob Getlar Smith papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn ACA Galleries. Soyer, Moses, 1899-1974 : artist file. The Barnes Foundation, Barnes Foundation Libraries and Special Collections
creatorOf SOYER, MOSES. Artist file : miscellaneous uncataloged material. Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)
referencedIn Judith Clancy papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn The ACA Galleries records Archives of American Art
creatorOf Soyer, Moses, 1899-1974. Moses Soyer : artist file : study photographs and reproductions of works of art with accompanying documentation 1930?-1990 [graphic] [compiled by staff of The Museum of Modern Art, New York]. Frick Art Reference Library of The Frick Collection
referencedIn Abraham Walkowitz papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Moses Soyer papers Archives of American Art
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Oral history interview with James Penney Archives of American Art
creatorOf Karl E. Fortess interviews with artists Archives of American Art
referencedIn Oral history interview with Lillian Orlowsky Archives of American Art
referencedIn Oral history interview with Chaim Gross Archives of American Art
Relation Name
associatedWith ACA Galleries. corporateBody
associatedWith American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters. corporateBody
associatedWith Baskin, Leonard, 1922- person
associatedWith Bishop, Isabel, 1902- person
associatedWith Brooklyn Museum. corporateBody
associatedWith Burliuk, David, 1882-1967 person
associatedWith Cikovsky, Nicolai, 1894- person
associatedWith Clancy, Judith, 1933- person
associatedWith Detroit Institute of Arts Research Library & Archives. corporateBody
associatedWith Dobkin, Alexander, 1908- person
associatedWith Eugenie Gershoy person
associatedWith Evans, Clifford, person
associatedWith Evergood, Philip, 1901-1973. person
associatedWith Fortess, Karl E. (Karl Eugene), 1907- person
associatedWith Gershoy, Eugenie, 1901?-1983 or 6. person
associatedWith Gross, Chaim, 1904-1991 person
associatedWith Kopman, Benjamin, b. 1887. person
associatedWith Kruse, Alexander Z., 1888-1972. person
associatedWith Lawrence, Jacob, 1917-2000 person
associatedWith Lerner, Abe, 1908-2002. person
associatedWith Mark, Marilyn Sabetsky, 1930- person
associatedWith Museum of Modern Art (New York, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Newman, Arnold, 1918- person
associatedWith Orlowsky, Lillian, 1914- person
associatedWith Ostrowsky, Abbo, 1889-1975. person
associatedWith Penney, James, 1910- person
associatedWith Schimmel, Herbert D., 1909- person
associatedWith Seltzer, Leo. person
associatedWith Shahn, Ben, 1898-1969. person
associatedWith Smith, Jacob Getlar, 1898-1958. person
associatedWith Soyer, David, 1923- person
associatedWith Soyer, Ida person
associatedWith Soyer, Ida. person
associatedWith Soyer, Raphael, 1899-1987. person
associatedWith Trommer, Marie, b. 1895. person
associatedWith Valente, Alfredo. person
associatedWith Walkowitz, Abraham, 1880-1965. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
New York (State)--New York
New York (State)--New York
Subject
Abstract expressionism
Art, American
Art
Artists
Artists' studios
Artists' studios
Painters
Painters
Painting
Painting, American
Realism in art
Social realism
Social realism
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1899-12-25

Death 1974-09-03

Americans

Information

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