Zittend mannelijk naakt, van voren gezien (3e prijs 1772) Possibly 1772 - 1773

Wybrand Hendriks made this red chalk drawing of a seated male nude in 1772. It won third prize in a competition, and the inscription at the top commemorates this honor. In the eighteenth century, the art academy was a vital institution. Artists needed to master anatomy through life drawing to produce convincing representations of the human body. But while this drawing demonstrates Hendriks’s skill, it’s also worth considering that art academies played a crucial role in shaping artistic taste, and in defining what was considered to be ‘good’ art. What does it mean that Hendriks’s drawing won a prize? The drawing embodies the values of the Dutch art academy. We see the influence of classical sculpture in the figure’s idealized physique and the emphasis on anatomical accuracy. To fully understand this drawing, we might consult archival records of the art academy, prize lists, and other student drawings. By situating the artwork within its institutional context, we can gain a richer understanding of its meaning and significance.