Naaktstudie van een knielende man 1677 - 1682

Simone Pignoni made this red chalk drawing of a kneeling man. During the Renaissance, academies of art were becoming more formalized, and the nude was central to their teachings. These life drawings weren't simply about mastering anatomy; they instilled particular cultural values. Created in Italy, this sketch speaks to the culture of idealized beauty and masculinity that prevailed. The male nude was also a way to reflect on the classical past of Greece and Rome. This was a period when academies were solidifying their power, and the study of the human form became almost a rite of passage for artists. To fully understand this drawing, we can look into archival material such as the records of art academies. This helps us see how this image reinforces certain social norms.