Mandlig modelstudie 1671 - 1738

Hendrik Krock created this male nude study using graphite, likely as preparation for a larger history painting. Krock, working in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, operated within a very codified artistic and social structure. The male nude in art has a long and complicated history, often deployed to convey ideas about heroism, beauty, and power. Krock's drawing reflects the period's fascination with classical ideals, yet it also reveals the limitations placed on artists. Academies dictated acceptable forms and subjects, often sidelining the experiences and identities of anyone who wasn't a wealthy, white male. What does it mean to see the male body represented in this way? Whose gaze is centered? And whose stories remain untold? Think about how our own perspectives shape what we see – and what we might be missing.