Academic Male (recto and verso), from Premier Livre de Figures d'Academies gravées en Partie par les Professeurs de l’ Académie Royale Possibly 1737

"Academic Male (recto and verso)" is an etching by French Rococo artist François Boucher, possibly dating back to 1737. The print, part of a larger collection of engravings by the Royal Academy of France, depicts a nude male figure posed in a dynamic, contrapposto stance. The subject's anatomy is rendered with meticulous detail, showcasing Boucher's mastery of the human form, a crucial element of the Academic tradition. This print, now part of The Art Institute of Chicago's collection, is a testament to Boucher's skill and the prominence of the Royal Academy in shaping artistic standards of the 18th century.