Nude Youth Leaning on a Cloud and Gazing Upward
1675
chalk
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1675
chalk
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This drawing shows a young person lying on their side, their head resting on one hand. Their legs are bent, and the body is relaxed, almost floating. The background looks soft, like a cloud, with loose, sketchy lines. The artist used quick, confident strokes to show the body’s curves and the play of light on skin. The dark lines stand out against the warm, reddish-brown paper, making the figure pop. Next, look up Baroque to see how this style used drama and movement in art.
