Mannelijk naakt, van voren 1848 - 1927

August Allebé made this nude male study out of graphite on paper. The artist has used traditional art materials to create the artwork. Graphite pencil is a humble material, easily obtained, and requiring little in the way of expensive equipment. Note the artist’s commitment to capturing the human form through nuanced shading and attention to detail, despite the drawing’s sketchy quality. The relative ease with which graphite can be applied also lends itself to quickly capturing a sense of form, volume and anatomy on paper. There is a definite labor in the production process of this artwork. The artist has worked to capture the figure through the medium of drawing. This work challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and craft. By understanding its material and mode of production, it provides a pathway to appreciating the skill and artistry of the drawing.