Five male figures 

This is Peter Paul Rubens’s study of “Five Male Figures,” made sometime between 1600 and 1640. Rubens was a leading light in the Baroque movement, a style known for its drama and grandeur. Look at how Rubens captures the male form – there’s a sensual vulnerability in their poses, a departure from the stoic ideals of earlier art. How do these figures challenge or reinforce the conventions of masculinity? What do you think of the artist's decision to present them nude? Rubens, as a privileged white man in a powerful position, had the resources to portray the male form from a position of relative safety. I wonder what it would mean to give other bodies the same attention and care? How might we reimagine art through the lenses of diverse experiences, making space for vulnerability and power for all?