Mannelijk naakt, op handen en knieën 1789

Louis E.F. Garreau rendered this red chalk drawing, titled *Male Nude, on Hands and Knees*, which now resides in the Rijksmuseum. The male nude, a cornerstone of Western art, often served to glorify idealized forms, power, and dominance, yet here, the figure’s vulnerability challenges those conventions. The man is on his hands and knees, head bowed, with one arm draped over what appears to be a wall. What narratives might emerge if we shift our perspective to consider the lived experiences of the model, often erased from art historical narratives? Perhaps this is a figure caught in a moment of exhaustion, his posture hinting at a struggle or burden we cannot see. Garreau's drawing prompts us to reflect on the many untold stories and lived realities that lie beneath the surface of idealized forms.