Staand mannelijk naakt, leunend tegen een blok 1765 - 1781

This drawing of a standing male nude leaning against a block was made by Jean Grandjean. The figure's raised arm is a dominant motif, echoing classical orators and heroes. This gesture is not merely physical; it's a legacy passed down from ancient statuary to Renaissance painting. Consider the Roman sculptures of emperors addressing their troops, their arms similarly extended in a display of power and command. The 'ad locutio' gesture, as it’s known, reappears across the ages, a potent symbol of leadership. But there's more to it. This raised arm also hints at the yearning for ascension and connection with the divine, perhaps unconsciously mirroring our collective aspirations. The male figure, in his vulnerable nudity, invites us to confront primal human emotions. It is an assertion of self and the potency of human potential. The echoes of classical antiquity are undeniable, but their meanings have been subtly transformed. A visual language is passed on, its grammar altered by time.