Supine Male Nude with Right Leg Raised 19th-20th century

Editor: This is Denman Waldo Ross's "Supine Male Nude with Right Leg Raised," a pencil drawing of indeterminate date. It feels quite classical, in a fragmented, incomplete way. What strikes you about this sketch? Curator: It evokes a sense of vulnerability, doesn’t it? The pose, reminiscent of classical depictions of fallen heroes, but with a more contemporary, almost casual air. Consider how the raised leg, seemingly unsupported, might symbolize instability or reaching for something unattainable. Editor: I see that. The incompleteness amplifies that vulnerability, I think. Curator: Exactly. It begs us to consider the symbolic weight of the fragmented human form, divorced from a clear narrative. What memories, cultural or personal, does that pose unlock for you? Editor: It makes me think about the ways we idealize and then deconstruct the male form in art, and how that reflects changing societal values. Thank you.