Three studies of arms 1600 - 1700

This anonymous drawing, created sometime between 1600 and 1700, is a study of human anatomy. The artist has meticulously rendered three different poses of an arm, focusing on the musculature and form. The use of charcoal on blue paper creates a striking contrast, highlighting the details of the body. This type of anatomical study was common during the Renaissance and Baroque periods, as artists sought to understand the human form in order to depict it realistically in their paintings. The drawing is currently housed at the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen, Denmark.