Männlicher Akt mit stark angewinkeltem aufgelegtem linken Bein, die Hände vor dem Körper gefaltet, auf den Schultern eine Last stemmend 

This is a drawing of a male nude, produced by Victor Müller. It is currently housed in the Städel Museum. The drawing immediately strikes us with its intense anatomical detail. The figure is poised in a seemingly unstable, complex position; the left leg is sharply angled, creating a dynamic tension with the torso. Observe how Müller has chosen to render the hands: they are clasped tightly in front of the body as if bearing an invisible weight on his shoulders, an element that adds psychological depth to the study. Consider how Müller’s strategic use of line and shadow defines the musculature and contours of the figure, creating an implied sense of depth, enhanced by the off-white ground which serves to isolate the figure, intensifying its presence. While seemingly traditional in its subject matter, Müller’s treatment invites a more structuralist interpretation. The figure’s pose and tension imply a broader commentary on the physical and psychological burdens of existence.