Nude Woman on her Knees 

Michelangelo made this drawing of a kneeling nude woman with pen and ink. The wreath on her head indicates a classical subject, yet his approach is strikingly unconventional for early 16th-century Italy. Michelangelo has given us a powerfully built, muscular woman, a far cry from the smooth, idealized nudes that were the norm. What does it mean to represent the female nude in this way? Is he trying to push back against the patriarchal norms of his society? This image may reflect a broader shift in the understanding of gender and beauty during the Renaissance, when the rediscovery of classical art encouraged artists to celebrate the human form in all its diversity. As historians, we can consult letters, contracts, and other documentary sources to better understand the social and institutional context in which Michelangelo was working. By doing so, we can begin to grasp the complex interplay of forces that shaped his artistic vision.