Zittend mannelijk naakt, op de rug gezien (2e prijs 1788) Possibly 1788

Hendrik Tollenaar Wunsch created this pencil drawing of a seated male nude in 1788. It was awarded second prize, likely at an academy. In late eighteenth-century Netherlands, art academies played a crucial role in shaping artistic standards and training artists. This drawing is a product of that system. The male nude, seen from the back and perched on simple blocks, was a common subject in academic exercises, meant to demonstrate an artist's understanding of anatomy and form. The drawing also reflects the influence of classical ideals, which emphasized the beauty and perfection of the human form. The clean lines and careful shading suggest the artist’s ambition to emulate the timeless quality of ancient Greek and Roman sculpture. Understanding this drawing requires looking into the pedagogical practices of art academies, and the cultural values they promoted. We must ask: What did it mean to represent the human body in this way? What did it reveal about the relationship between art, education, and social ideals in the Netherlands at this time?