A Heroic Male Nude 

Here is a pen and brown ink drawing titled "A Heroic Male Nude" by Bertel Thorvaldsen, made sometime between the late 18th and mid-19th century. Thorvaldsen, a Danish sculptor working during the Neoclassical period, renders a male figure, nude except for sandals. The man stands tall with his arms crossed, head tilted upwards. What does it mean to depict the male nude as heroic? The idealization of the male form has deep roots in Western art, often used to convey power, virtue, and dominance. But who gets to be a hero, and whose bodies are celebrated? During Thorvaldsen's time, ideas about race and class were becoming increasingly codified. Consider how the notion of heroism might have been used to reinforce certain social hierarchies. This drawing prompts us to think about how bodies are represented, and what those representations tell us about the values of a particular time and place. How do you feel when you look at this image?