Standing Male with Tablet; separate sketch of right arm c. 1873 - 1877

This pencil sketch, "Standing Male with Tablet; separate sketch of right arm," was created by Edward Burne-Jones. The artwork, spare in its rendering, immediately draws our attention to the play of line and form against the stark white of the paper. The careful cross-hatching brings forth the male figure, a study in classical contrapposto. A separate, detailed sketch of an arm adds an element of spatial and temporal disjunction, disrupting the unity of the figure. The tablet, only hinted at, becomes less about inscription and more about the interplay of the figure's stance. The lines, while delicate, define the musculature, casting shadows that emphasize structure. Burne-Jones uses these elements to destabilize established meanings of classical form, offering a work that challenges us to look beyond representation to the underlying structure of the human figure. The work transforms into a semiotic space where signs point not just to external realities but to the very act of seeing and understanding form.