Studium aktu do postaci strażnika do obrazu ‘Katarzyna Jagiellonka w więzieniu w Gripsholmie’ 1858

Józef Simmler created this pencil study of a nude male figure for his painting 'Catherine Jagiellon in prison at Gripsholm.' Note the artist’s concentration on the precise rendering of anatomical form, with delicate lines delineating muscles and bone structure. The figure's contorted pose, leaning against what appears to be a pole, conveys a sense of unease and introspection. Observe the contrasting treatment between the fully realized upper body and the partially sketched legs on the right. Simmler engages in a semiotic game, using the nude form to explore themes of vulnerability and constraint. The figure's nudity, traditionally associated with classical ideals of beauty, is here juxtaposed with the implied role of a prison guard. By destabilizing this conventional meaning, the artwork invites us to consider the complex power dynamics and the psychological states it embodies.