Study of a male nude torso
Front view of a torso in black chalk heightened with white on blue paper
The sheet carries a carefully modelled study of a male nude, seen from the front from the shoulders to the thighs, drawn in black chalk with white heightening on blue prepared paper. Light falls from the left, so the chest, abdomen and near arm are brought forward with white while the far side sinks into shadow. Neither head nor lower legs are drawn, the study concentrating on the muscular surface of the trunk. A collector's monogram stamp is at the lower right; no text accompanies the drawing.
On this page
Frontal male torso
The nude trunk is shown frontally, the near arm descending at the side and the weight settling so that the surface muscles of the chest and belly are described. Head, hands and feet are left undrawn, keeping the focus on the outward form of the torso. The contour of the far arm and hip is drawn with a single sure line.
Modelling in white heightening
On the blue ground the figure is built up with black-chalk shadow and white-chalk highlights, a technique for studying light and shade on the body. The lit chest and abdomen are stroked with white while the receding side is left in the blue and darkened. The result reads as an exercise in relief and illumination.