Twee armen met spierbundels 1820 - 1833

Jean Augustin Daiwaille created this drawing, "Two Arms with Muscles," using pen in gray and brush in gray ink. Daiwaille, working in the 19th century, presents us with a study of human anatomy, a subject of great interest during the Enlightenment and beyond. Yet, looking at these arms, one can't help but consider the social and political context in which such a detailed rendering of the muscular form gains significance. The male body, often associated with strength and power, has historically been a site of both admiration and control. How does the scientific gaze, so prevalent in Daiwaille's time, intersect with the construction of masculinity and its attendant expectations? Consider the labor implied by such muscular development; the arms speak to the physical demands placed upon working-class men. Does the artist invite us to contemplate the relationship between physical exertion and social status? These are just some of the tensions embodied in Daiwaille's drawing, a reminder of the complex interplay between art, science, and society.