Two Male Figures Looking in a Mirror and a Putto. 1518

This drawing by Jacopo Pontormo, a prominent Florentine artist of the Mannerist era, showcases the artist’s mastery of figural studies. Dated 1518, the piece depicts two male figures, one seated, the other standing, engaged in an intimate moment as they look into a mirror. The contorted postures and exaggerated anatomy are characteristic of Mannerist art, reflecting a departure from the idealized forms of High Renaissance. The presence of a putto (a winged baby figure) adds a playful element to the composition, hinting at the complex themes of vanity and human mortality often explored in Pontormo's work.