Mandlig modelstudie, siddende med stav 1671 - 1738

This red chalk drawing of a seated male nude with a staff was created by Hendrik Krock. The drawing is defined by the sitter's monumental, statuesque pose. The sitter, positioned on an elevated form, is depicted in a sanguine monochrome palette, and the texture of the chalk lends warmth to the figure's skin. The drawing is a study which focuses on the precise details of the human form, and the overall effect recalls classical sculpture. Krock employs a network of fine lines to give form to the sitter's musculature, and a heavier application of chalk to give shadow and volume. The semiotic properties of the staff, a common attribute of classical statuary, serve to communicate the sitter's power and authority. The figure seems to both occupy space and project outwards, engaging the viewer in a dynamic play of artistic representation. The emphasis on idealized form is a testament to Krock’s ability to merge classical ideals with the immediacy of drawing.