Male Figure with Left Arm Raised Seen from the Back, and Fragment of Old Man 1770 - 1775

Henry Fuseli made this drawing of a male figure with pen and brown ink with gray wash on laid paper. Fuseli's choice of materials – humble paper, basic inks – is telling. This wasn’t about high-flown oil painting; it was about getting ideas down, experimenting. The quick strokes and broad washes create a sense of immediacy, a moment captured in thought. Look at the contrast between the dark, shadowy areas and the highlights, achieved by leaving the paper bare. This creates a dramatic effect, emphasizing the figure’s musculature and the folds of his drapery. The whole piece feels provisional, even unfinished. Fuseli was interested in the power of imagination, and in the raw emotion that could be expressed through the human body. It's a good reminder that art isn't always about polished surfaces and perfect technique. Sometimes, it’s about the energy of the hand, the urgency of the artist’s vision, and the honest exploration of the human form.