Zittend mannelijk naakt, met opgeheven arm c. 1818 - 1900

Gerard Allebé created this nude male figure with raised arm using graphite on paper, sometime in the 19th century. The artist's hand is evident in every stroke. The softness of the graphite allows for subtle gradations of tone, building volume and mass. The varying pressure applied to the pencil creates a range of light and shadow, defining the contours of the body. You can almost feel the texture of the paper itself beneath the graphite marks. Of course, life drawing has a long and venerable history, dating back to the Renaissance. But drawings like this also remind us that academic art training was hard work. They invite us to consider the labor involved in the artistic process, and to value the skill and dedication required to master the craft of drawing. By celebrating these qualities, we can fully appreciate the artistic value of this drawing.