Standing Male Nude c. 1890 - 1915

Curator: This charcoal drawing is John Singer Sargent’s *Standing Male Nude*, part of the collection at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It strikes me as surprisingly intimate. The cross-hatching gives a real sense of depth, especially around the figure’s back and shoulders. Curator: Sargent was, of course, celebrated for his portraits of society figures. This drawing offers a glimpse into academic figure study, a crucial element of artistic training at the time. Editor: Yes, but there’s also a palpable tension here. The pose—arms crossed tightly—and the direct gaze project a kind of defiant vulnerability. Curator: Absolutely. These nude studies were vital in challenging societal norms around the body and pushing the boundaries of representation in art institutions. Editor: I'm especially drawn to the way Sargent uses light and shadow to sculpt the figure, creating a dynamic interplay between the model's physicality and the abstract background. Curator: Precisely. Sargent's *Standing Male Nude* reveals both his technical skill and an interesting look into the aesthetic and social values of the time. Editor: Indeed, it's a fascinating display of form and feeling rendered so simply.