Mandlig model hvilende på venstre knæ 1755 - 1759

Isak Henningsen created this sepia toned drawing of a male model resting on his left knee sometime before 1759. In the 18th century, the male nude was a respected subject of study for artists honing their skills in depicting the human form. This work offers us a glimpse into the academic practices of the time, but also invites us to consider the role of the male body as an object of artistic scrutiny. How does it feel to be observed, to be rendered? The model’s gaze is cast downward, his posture suggesting introspection or perhaps discomfort. Are we, as viewers, implicated in this dynamic? In this historical moment, questions of gender, class, and power are subtly present, reminding us that even seemingly classical subjects are embedded in the social realities of their time.