Two Nude Youths [recto] c. 1565 - 1567

Federico Barocci made this drawing of two nude youths with black chalk heightened with white on blue paper. The work exemplifies the Renaissance’s fascination with classical antiquity. The male nude, particularly in art made in Italy during the 16th century, symbolized ideals of beauty, strength, and virtue closely tied to civic and patriarchal power. Yet, in this drawing, Barocci subtly complicates these established representations. One youth is standing, his face gazing upward, with his arms wrapped around himself in what seems like a protective gesture. The other is seated, leaning on one arm in a posture that conveys introspection. Their vulnerability departs from the hyper-masculine presentation often favored in depictions of nude male figures. Barocci's exploration of male vulnerability invites us to consider the emotional and psychological dimensions of the figures represented. How might their expressions and postures reflect societal expectations?