Young Male Nude 1905

Lovis Corinth made this delicate pencil drawing of a nude male, sometime between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Nude studies have a long history in Western art. They were an important element of academic training. Art schools taught young artists to idealize the human form, looking to classical antiquity for inspiration. But Corinth brings a different sensibility to the subject. This is a quick sketch, not a highly finished presentation piece. The youth's pose is unconventional, and his physique less than perfect. Corinth was a German artist, closely associated with the Berlin Secession. This was an artistic movement that challenged the conservative artistic establishment of Imperial Germany. Corinth and his peers sought to rejuvenate the traditions of painting and sculpture by embracing greater freedom of expression. Art history is about more than just aesthetics. By studying the social context of artworks, we can better understand their meaning and significance. You can delve into the archives of art schools or read manifestos from the period to learn more about the changing role of art.