Étude De Nu Masculin 1905

Eugène Jansson made this nude male study with charcoal and pencil on paper. I am wondering what it was like for him, drawing from life, trying to capture the subtleties of the human form, the way the light falls on the muscles, the weight of the body. I see him working slowly, layering shadows, building up the figure stroke by stroke. His subject stands relaxed, leaning casually on a pole. I wonder if the model was one of his friends. There is a sense of intimacy in the drawing, like Jansson is celebrating the beauty and strength of the male form. The soft, muted tones create a sense of quiet contemplation, like Jansson is inviting us to pause and appreciate the simple elegance of the human body. He inspires me to think about the process of drawing, of seeing, of capturing a moment in time.