Naakte man met vlag c. 1843 - 1864

This is a quick sketch by Louis Royer, made with pen and ink. The relatively humble materials give this work a loose, provisional quality. The artist has left the marks of his process visible, and the image feels unresolved. Royer was a successful sculptor in his day, known for his large-scale public commissions. He made several statues for the square in front of the Royal Palace in Amsterdam. This sketch may be a preparatory study. What makes this drawing interesting is the contrast between its classical subject, a heroic male nude with a flag, and the immediacy of its making. The monumentality Royer sought in his sculpture was achieved through a laborious process of carving stone. But here, he explores the same themes with just a few strokes of his pen. It reminds us that any artwork is always a product of both concept and craft.