Naakte man 1705 - 1754

Jacob de Wit created this drawing, Naakte man, with pen in the 18th century. At the time, the Dutch Republic was a major European power with a global trading network. The era saw the rise of the Enlightenment, which emphasized reason, individualism, and skepticism toward traditional authority. De Wit’s nude male figure is in line with academic artistic traditions rooted in classical antiquity. Here, the man’s body is idealized, muscular, and seemingly flawless; his gaze is lifted to the sky. But while the body is aggrandized, he does not adopt a heroic pose. Instead he sits hunched on a rocky surface, his arm thrown over his chest, his fingers pressed against his throat. He seems to be in a moment of reflection or caught up in an interior struggle. The gaze might even suggest he’s questioning the world around him. De Wit captures a moment of raw humanity and vulnerability, as the nude man invites empathy and recognition.