Staand mannelijk naakt, van voren gezien c. 1826

This is A. Waterloo’s pencil drawing of a standing male nude, of which the date is unknown. In this drawing, the artist, a white European man, has captured the male form in a pose that is classical, muscular, and seemingly powerful. However, the gaze complicates this reading. There is a slight turn to the head and a vulnerability in the man's eyes which counters the more conventional representation of male virility. This adds a layer of emotional complexity, hinting perhaps at the tensions and contradictions within masculinity itself. Historically, depictions of the nude male body have often been used to convey notions of heroism, beauty, and strength, yet this drawing seems to subtly challenge such straightforward interpretations. Waterloo leaves space for alternative narratives, inviting us to consider the human condition more broadly. The drawing shapes how we think about identity, and the individual experience of existing within the bounds of cultural expectations.