Zittend mannelijk naakt met opgetrokken been 1664 - 1730

Here is the audio guide script: Jan Hoogsaat rendered this drawing of a seated male nude with graphite. The figure is arranged diagonally, creating a dynamic composition. Hoogsaat's handling of light and shadow models the figure and emphasizes its musculature. We can analyze this through the lens of semiotics, the study of signs and symbols. The male nude, particularly in a classical pose, functioned as a signifier of ideal beauty and strength, echoing the values of classical antiquity. However, the anatomical imprecision and the mundane setting—suggested by the plain background—might destabilize these established meanings. The lines of the graphite, with their varying thickness and direction, create texture and depth. Hoogsaat seems less concerned with an exact representation of the human form and more interested in exploring the expressive potential of the medium. The way the figure is posed, with a raised leg, creates a sense of imbalance, further challenging traditional norms of representation. This drawing functions not just as a study of form but also as a subtle commentary on the evolving artistic and cultural values of its time.