Jonge tekenaar en twee aanzichten van het lichaam van een twaalfjarige jongen 1723

This drawing of a young draftsman and two views of a twelve-year-old boy was made by Hieronymus Sperling in the 18th century. During the Enlightenment, there was an increased interest in scientific observation and documentation. Sperling’s work reflects this movement by measuring and depicting the human form. He created a scientific study of a boy’s physical development. The image also raises questions about the aestheticization of the male body and the power dynamics involved in observing and representing it. Sperling maintains the tradition of classical proportions. We see an idealized, almost sculptural, representation of youth. What does it mean to capture and display the body in this way? Are these depictions objective observations, or do they convey cultural ideals and desires? This drawing invites us to consider how artistic and scientific practices intersect, and how they reflect broader cultural attitudes toward youth, beauty, and the body.