Study of a male nude
1650
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1650
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
This drawing shows two male figures lying down, their bodies twisted in a relaxed pose. The artist used quick, sketchy lines to show muscle and skin, with no background details. One figure’s arm rests under his head, while the other’s legs stretch out awkwardly. The shading is made by layering tiny parallel lines, creating dark and light areas without much color. This technique makes the figures look solid but still rough around the edges. Try looking up cross-hatching to see how artists build shadows this way.
