Sitting male nude 

Here, at the Städel Museum, you are standing before a drawing by Victor Müller, "Sitting male nude." The study captures the figure in a moment of introspective repose. The male nude, a symbol of both physical perfection and intellectual contemplation, reaches back to antiquity. This image makes me think of the Doryphoros of Polykleitos, an emblem of idealized proportions. However, here, Müller presents a figure less godlike and more grounded in earthly reality. Observe the gesture of the raised arm. It reminds one of the triumphant arm gestures from ancient Roman sculptures to Renaissance paintings; think of Michelangelo's David. The hand clasps a rod or curtain, a device used to both anchor the figure within the space and draw the viewer's eye upwards. The slight tension in the muscles tells a story of underlying vitality and unresolved potential, engaging us on a subconscious level. This symbol of power, of the potent male form, evolves and adapts through time, reflecting shifting cultural attitudes towards masculinity, strength, and self-awareness.