Männlicher Rückenakt 1908

Franz von Stuck made this drawing with charcoal, probably in his studio in Munich. Look at how he's really scratched into the paper to find this figure. I always feel for the artist when I see a drawing like this. It's a real struggle! He's probably thinking, how do I describe this three-dimensional figure on a flat surface? It's not just about observation. It's about feeling the weight of the body, the tension in the muscles, the way the light falls. The arm reaching back, the angle of the head, and the soft gradations of shading to bring it to life. It is all so sensitive! This reminds me of Rodin's drawings, but more classical. I think both artists were trying to catch the fleeting moment, the energy of the body in space. You can see them trying to capture something essential, something that goes beyond mere representation. That kind of struggle is a conversation all artists have. We learn from each other, we build on each other's work.