Liggend mannelijk naakt 1741 - 1765

This black chalk drawing presents a reclining male nude. It was created by Louis Félix de La Rue in the 18th century, and is now held in the Rijksmuseum. Note the man’s raised arm, bound at the wrist. This motif of the bound figure carries echoes of ancient iconography. Think of Prometheus chained, an image of defiance against the gods, or Saint Sebastian pierced with arrows, a symbol of suffering and martyrdom. The constraints suggest both vulnerability and potential for release. This tension engages our collective memory and touches on the subconscious recognition of human struggle, echoing through time in art and myth. The pose invokes a primal emotional response, one deeply embedded in our shared cultural consciousness. This is why we find this figure, in varying forms, in different eras. The bound figure transcends its immediate context. From antiquity to the present day, it resurfaces, bearing witness to our enduring fascination with themes of bondage, freedom, and the human condition.