Staand mannelijk naakt, van voren gezien c. 1842

A. Waterloo created this drawing of a standing male nude using graphite and possibly charcoal on paper. The choice of monochrome media allows for a focus on form and volume, rendered through careful shading and highlighting. This approach directly engages with academic tradition. But beyond its artistic aspirations, the drawing speaks to a system of labor and training that underpins artistic production. The model, likely paid for his time, embodies human labor. The artist also contributes labor. The countless hours of practice required to achieve proficiency in drawing the human figure are less visible, yet equally crucial. By considering the labor involved in both the creation and the representation of the figure, we gain a fuller appreciation of the drawing's cultural significance. It prompts us to consider art not only as a product of individual genius, but also as a reflection of broader social and economic forces.