Muscular tissue of the abdomen

1970

From the collection of Leiden University Libraries

Dominant colour

Muscular tissue of the abdomen is a 1970 by J Wetselaar-Whittaker, depicting Anatomy, held at Leiden University Libraries.

Who painted this?: J Wetselaar-Whittaker
When & what style?: 1970
Where can I see it?: Leiden University Libraries

About this work

This sketch shows the back of a person’s upper body, focusing on the muscles between the shoulders and down the spine. The drawing is in black and white, with loose, sketchy lines that show the shape of the skin and the layers of muscle underneath. There’s a button and a zipper-like detail near the collarbone, adding a touch of clothing to the mostly bare figure. The artist used quick, uneven strokes to suggest movement and depth in the muscles, almost like they were tracing real anatomy. This kind of detailed drawing was often used to study how the body works. Check out cross-hatching to see how artists build shadows with layers of lines.