Who painted Study of a Standing Male Figure after the Antique?

Study of a Standing Male Figure after the Antique was painted by Paul Cézanne in 1895.

Where can I see Study of a Standing Male Figure after the Antique?

Study of a Standing Male Figure after the Antique is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Study of a Standing Male Figure after the Antique?

Study of a Standing Male Figure after the Antique is associated with Impressionism.

Can I buy a print of Study of a Standing Male Figure after the Antique?

Museum-quality prints of Study of a Standing Male Figure after the Antique are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Study of a Standing Male Figure after the Antique

Paul Cézanne , 1895

Study of a Standing Male Figure after the Antique is a graphite drawing by the Impressionist artist Paul Cézanne. It dates from 1895 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:by later hand, lower left verso in graphite: XXXVI; by later hand, lower right verso in graphite: 71

About this work

Overview

Paul Cézanne’s drawing titled Study of a Standing Male Figure after the Antique dates from around 1895. Executed in graphite on wove paper, the work measures a modest size and functions as a preparatory sketch rather than a finished composition. The paper bears a warm, yellowish tone that subtly influences the overall visual impression.

Subject & Meaning

The image records a single male figure captured in a standing pose, rendered from an ancient model that Cézanne used as a reference. The composition places the figure toward one edge of the sheet, leaving a broad expanse of blank space that emphasizes the solitary presence of the body and invites contemplation of its volumetric form.

Technique & Style

Cézanne employs rapid, uneven graphite strokes that convey the figure’s mass and movement without detailing surface texture. The lines are intentionally loose, prioritising the overall silhouette and anatomical structure over fine surface rendering. This approach reflects the artist’s practice of using simple linear gestures to explore complex three-dimensional shapes.

History & Provenance

Created in the mid-1890s, the drawing belongs to a period when Cézanne frequently produced studies after classical statues to refine his understanding of form. While specific ownership records are scarce, the work is catalogued among his numerous figure studies that served as pedagogical tools for mastering anatomy and pose.

Study of "The Roman Orator (Germanicus)", Paul Cézanne

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Artist & collection

Artist

Paul Cézanne

Paul Cézanne ( say-ZAN, UK also siz-AN, US also say-ZAHN; French: ; Occitan: Pau Cesana; 19 January 1839 – 22 October 1906) was a French Post-Impressionist painter whose work introduced new modes of representation,…