Staand mannelijk naakt, op de rug gezien (1e prijs 1787) Possibly 1787

Hendrik Voogd drew this standing male nude in 1787 using graphite on paper. The drawing is the result of skilled handwork, and the artist's expertise in creating subtle gradations of tone and texture, all through the simple medium of graphite. You can see the careful cross-hatching, and the way Voogd has built up darker areas to define the figure's musculature, which gives the figure a sense of depth. This work would have been produced in an academic context, the paper acting almost like a sculptural medium. The artist coaxes light and shadow from the page, creating a three-dimensional form through his skillful handling of the pencil. Voogd won a prize for this drawing, suggesting his mastery of the craft was well-regarded at the time. The drawing's power lies in its simplicity, a testament to the artist's skill in transforming a humble material into a compelling work of art. It invites us to appreciate the beauty and complexity of the human form through the lens of craft and making.