Stehender männlicher Akt, mit erhobener Linker im Ausfallschritt nach rechts 

Victor Müller made this standing male nude using graphite, a relatively new material in the 19th century. The materiality of graphite lends itself to capturing the subtleties of light and shadow on the human form, as evidenced by the delicate shading and fine lines, crucial for defining the figure's anatomy. Graphite enabled a rapid and efficient method for creating detailed studies, balancing the demands of academic rigor and artistic expression. The choice of graphite for academic figure studies in 19th-century art reflects a wider shift in artistic practice towards a more empirical and analytical approach. Here, the process of drawing is a means of understanding the human form, not just replicating it. So, consider how the physical properties of graphite, combined with the drawing process, contribute to our understanding and appreciation of the figure. It reminds us that even in the most classical subjects, the materials and making process play a central role.