Stående model. Set fra ryggen. Stav i venstre hånd 1816 - 1823

H.W. Bissen made this chalk drawing of a male nude, titled “Standing Model. Seen from the Back. Staff in Left Hand,” sometime in the first half of the 19th century. The nude figure derives from classical antiquity but here, it is likely a study for a sculpture. Life drawing was a core element of academic artistic training at the time. It was thought that emulating classical forms could provide a foundation for contemporary art, while also instilling notions of ideal beauty. This pedagogy was adopted across Europe, and beyond, through official art academies. Historical documents such as academy syllabi and student memoirs are critical in understanding the social function of this art. They show us that these drawings were as much about the formation of social hierarchies as they were about artistic skill. By studying the institutions and cultures that shaped art, we can better understand its complex meanings.