Twee figuurstudies van een zittende man 1558 - 1612

Bernardino Poccetti rendered these two figure studies of a seated man in pen and brown ink, and brown wash, on paper. The most dominant visual symbol in this piece is the relaxed, seated posture of the man, which speaks volumes about the changing societal values of the time. Compare it to the formal, upright postures in Renaissance portraiture, meant to convey authority. Notice how Poccetti’s figure mirrors the ancient "thinker" pose seen in classical sculptures. The gesture indicates contemplation. This motif reappears across time, from antiquity to modern sculpture. The cyclical return to classical forms and gestures reflects our deep, subconscious need to connect with past wisdom. It is not a linear progression but a cyclical return, each iteration nuanced by its own historical context.