Naakte man met stok 1787 - 1808

Jan Brandes made this drawing, "Naakte man met stok" or "Naked Man with Stick," with graphite on paper, sometime around the late 18th century. The use of graphite is especially interesting. While we might think of it as a simple material, it actually has a rich history, and like the human figure, can have a deceptive simplicity. Graphite is essentially pure carbon, mined from the earth and then processed into rods for drawing. The artist uses this material to great effect, achieving subtle gradations of tone and shadow, defining the man’s musculature and lending a sculptural quality to the image. Look closely, and you’ll notice the directionality of the graphite marks, which follow the contours of the body and emphasize its three-dimensionality. But notice also that the man is not idealized. This is a figure study, and the materiality of the graphite—its directness and immediacy—contributes to the sketch-like quality of the work. It reminds us that even the most refined artistic endeavors are rooted in basic materials and processes, and that these humble origins can be just as important as the final image.