An Academy Study of a Reclining Male Nude

About this work

This sketch shows a man lying on his side, his body relaxed and turned slightly toward us. His head rests on one arm, while the other arm bends under his chest. The paper has a textured, off-white background, and the artist used soft red chalk to draw smooth curves over his skin and limbs. The artist focused on the play of light and shadow to show how the body folds—notice how the leg closest to us blends into the surface. This kind of study was often used to practice anatomy and form. Look up chiaroscuro next to see how this technique works in other drawings.