Liegender Hirte aus der _Verkündigung_ als Aktfigur in Rückansicht c. 1856 - 1857

This is Victor Müller’s pencil drawing _Liegender Hirte aus der Verkündigung als Aktfigur in Rückansicht_ at the Städel Museum. The artwork presents a reclining male nude, viewed from the back, with a formal purity. Müller's use of delicate pencil strokes shapes the figure on the page with a soft, almost dreamlike quality. Notice the artist's focus on the contours of the back and shoulders, which define the anatomy with subtle gradations of tone. The composition, seemingly simple, evokes complex meanings through the subject's pose and the artist's handling of light and shadow. This piece challenges traditional art historical themes by stripping the shepherd figure from the original biblical scene, recasting it as a study in pure form. It is an exercise in aesthetic construction, where the artist focuses on translating the human form into an arrangement of lines and volumes, reflecting a broader interest in the materiality of art.