Zittende en een staande naakte jongeling 1513

Wolfgang Huber rendered these two nude youths in pen and brush, heightened with white, on paper sometime in the early sixteenth century. Observe the figure on the right, gazing upward with what appears to be a bundle of reeds in his hand. This motif of a figure looking skyward stretches back to antiquity, often symbolizing aspiration or divine inspiration. Recall the ancient depictions of philosophers or prophets, their eyes lifted towards the heavens, seeking enlightenment. The reeds, while seemingly simple, might allude to themes of pastoral life, music, or even sacrifice, depending on the cultural context. This act of looking upwards echoes through the ages, appearing in Renaissance paintings, Romantic landscapes, and even modern photography. Each era imbues it with new significance, yet the core idea of yearning for something beyond the earthly remains.