Zittend mannelijk naakt, op de rug gezien (3e prijs 1785) Possibly 1785

Hendrik de Flines created this chalk drawing, "Sitting Male Nude, Seen from the Back" in 1785. Dominated by sepia tones, the artwork presents a study in contrasts—the organic curves of the human form against the geometric rigidity of the block on which the figure sits. The texture of the chalk lends a softness to the musculature, while the precise hatching in the background creates a sense of depth and volume. The composition invites a semiotic reading. The figure is turned away, a signifier perhaps of introspection or detachment. His posture, a deliberate arrangement of limbs and torso, communicates both relaxation and tension, underscored by the contrast between curved and straight lines. Ultimately, the artwork is a sophisticated negotiation between form and meaning. The artist uses the nude to explore broader themes of human existence, perception, and the interplay between the individual and the world. The linear quality of the drawing and its engagement with classical forms serve to destabilize any fixed meanings, suggesting instead the fluidity of interpretation.