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Male Nude

Walter Shirlaw

1874

graphite

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century Nude

Dominant colour

Male Nude is a 1874 graphite by Walter Shirlaw, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Walter Shirlaw
When & what style?: 1874 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch shows a nude male figure standing on a pedestal, holding a stick in his right hand. His left hand rests on a block, and his hair is pulled back. The figure is drawn in graphite on wove paper, with subtle shading that suggests a sense of volume and texture. The artist's use of light and shadow creates a sense of depth and dimensionality, drawing the viewer's eye to the figure's muscles and contours. The overall effect is one of quiet contemplation, as if the figure is lost in thought. To learn more about the artist's technique, explore the use of chiaroscuro.