Staande Apollo, de linkerarm omhoog 1672 - 1747

Curator: Before us, we have "Standing Apollo, left arm raised" a pencil drawing executed by Willem van Mieris sometime between 1672 and 1747. Editor: It has the stillness of a sigh. Or a held breath. Almost as if Apollo is pausing mid-stretch. I feel the moment before action. Curator: The academic approach is evident, focusing on precise anatomical detail. The pose invites scrutiny, doesn't it? The raised arm, the contrapposto stance—classic elements deliberately deployed to explore ideal human form. Note the delicacy of line, the subtle shading suggesting volume and texture. Editor: Absolutely, and you know, that's what makes it captivating, this blend of precision with this airy quality. The pencil strokes feel almost tentative in places, unfinished, especially lower left of the composition which, weirdly, amplifies his presence. It’s not just an ideal form; it feels...alive with potential, a becoming, as if in the process of drawing himself into existance.. Curator: Precisely. And consider the function. A preparatory study perhaps. Notice the way the drapery is rendered only in suggestive strokes, serving to highlight rather than conceal the figure's musculature. Editor: Or maybe Mieris was having a little philosophical giggle here. Apollo, right? God of light, music, poetry—and Mieris captures him... just stretching, mortal-like. Almost ordinary, except he's still glowing, you know? And it makes you wonder: even gods gotta stretch now and then, don’t they? The most mundane pose elevating the artistic value.. Curator: A whimsical interpretation indeed, though I maintain the core intent remains the exploration of idealised form within a classical framework. Its semiotic function transcends mere representation to embody notions of beauty and aesthetic excellence as then prescribed by academic thought. Editor: Maybe that is so. But what matters to me is the enduring image of Apollo, ready for whatever the day might bring. Now that is what I will bring away from this discussion today! Curator: A refreshing perspective, bringing this exploration to a more introspective experience which can definitely amplify the perception of the overall aesthetic.