A Male Herm
1669
charcoal
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1669
charcoal
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This sketch shows a nude man from behind, standing with his arms raised. The charcoal lines are rough and layered, making the skin look textured. His muscles and posture are simple but clear, with quick strokes for shadows. The artist used a lot of shading to show depth, especially on the back and arms. The paper is tan, and the white highlights make the figure stand out. Next, look up scumbling to see how artists create soft shading like this.
