Kneeling male nude for ‘Kiss of the Sphinx’ before 1895

This preparatory study by Franz von Stuck for his painting "Kiss of the Sphinx" depicts a kneeling male nude with arms outstretched, seemingly in an act of supplication. Executed in charcoal, this study reveals the meticulous detail and masterful anatomical understanding of the artist, a key hallmark of the Symbolist movement to which Stuck is associated. This drawing, created before 1895, highlights Stuck's artistic process and serves as a glimpse into the development of his larger, more complex works.