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Laocoön (recto)

Unknown

1575

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Renaissance Renaissance

Dominant colour

Laocoön (recto) is a 1575 by Unknown, a Renaissance work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 1575 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

This sketch shows three struggling men tangled together. Their bodies twist in rough lines, muscles bulging under loose skin. One man’s face is twisted in pain, another’s arm is bent awkwardly, and a third’s legs are wrapped around the first. The paper is worn, with faint smudges where fingers might have pressed. The figures look like they’re fighting—or maybe drowning. The artist focused on movement, not details, leaving faces and limbs half-finished. It feels like a quick study, not a polished work. If you like this raw energy, look up Renaissance.