Sitzendes bekleidetes männliches Modell 

Friedrich Wilhelm Hirt’s "Seated Dressed Male Model" is a drawing done with red chalk, a medium prized for its soft, granular texture. Chalk is an unassuming material; not precious, but capable of capturing a great deal of information, and, in the right hands, capable of great refinement. Here, the artist uses it to capture the likeness of a man in rest. The network of fine parallel lines, drawn close together, creates a sense of shadow. The weight of the figure is palpable, the artist's hand skillfully leading the chalk to give volume and dimension to the man's posture, clothes and facial features. But, there's an element of labor in it, too. The drawing feels like work in progress. Hirt, with his commitment to capturing the everyday, makes us aware that even the act of drawing is a kind of labor. This artwork reminds us that materials and making are central to understanding art, challenging assumptions about high and low forms of creative expression.