Staande naakte vrouw bij een boomstam c. 1701

Jacob Toorenvliet made this sketch of a standing nude woman next to a tree trunk with graphite. This type of drawing was crucial in the artistic training of 17th and 18th-century Europe, where idealized forms, often drawn from classical sculpture, were seen as the basis for all art. In countries such as the Netherlands, where Toorenvliet worked, artistic guilds and academies played a central role in setting standards and providing instruction. Students would copy established works and draw from life, gradually mastering anatomy and proportion. This particular drawing might have been made as part of Toorenvliet's own training or for use in his teaching. The pose is reminiscent of classical statues of Venus, the goddess of love, whose representation was a demonstration of artistic skill and knowledge. To better understand the role of this drawing, we could consult guild records, artists' manuals, and inventories of teaching collections. These sources help us understand the social and institutional contexts that shaped the production and reception of art.