Zittend mannelijk naakt, op een blok met een stok 1809 - 1869

"Zittend mannelijk naakt, op een blok met een stok" (Seated Male Nude, on a Block with a Stick) is a charcoal drawing created between 1809 and 1869 by Belgian artist Alexander Cranendoncq (1799-1869). This academic study, currently held by the Rijksmuseum, captures the anatomical details of the male form through realistic rendering and precise shading. Cranendoncq's use of chiaroscuro, a technique using light and dark contrasts, adds depth and volume to the figure, emphasizing its musculature and structure. The simplicity of the composition, featuring a seated nude figure holding a staff, exemplifies the classical principles of art education that were prevalent during Cranendoncq's time.