In the 1920s Moore drew extensively from life. Life classes were part of his courses in Leeds and London. He meticulously preserved most of the drawings he made at the Royal College but hardly any of those from his Yorkshire days. Initially, Moore opted for a naturalistic rendition of his subjects, but by 1922 his approach became more experimental: he adopted a freer style and explored a wide range of techniques. This drawing is an early example of the vibrant combination of different media (pen, ink, chalk and wash) which characterised his drawing throughout his career. The unusually metallic, almost reflective areas of vivid colour may have been influenced by the sculptor Leon Underwood (1890-1975), who was one of Moore’s drawing instructors in London.

Sebastiano Barassi, for Henry Moore: From Paper to Bronze at Waddesdon Manor, 2015