Staand mannelijk naakt, met een stok, de linkervoet op een blok 1765 - 1781

Jean Grandjean created this standing male nude with a stick, the left foot on a block, in the late 18th century. The artist was French. Grandjean's drawing embodies the Neoclassical style, which drew inspiration from ancient Greek and Roman art. This aesthetic movement coincided with a period of political upheaval, as revolutionaries sought to emulate the republican virtues of antiquity. Nude male figures became symbols of civic duty, moral virtue, and physical strength, as well as objects of the aesthetic ideal, often displayed in the salons. The institutional hierarchies of the French Academy also shaped artistic production at this time. To truly grasp the drawing’s significance, one can delve into primary sources from the era, such as art treatises and salon reviews, which offer insights into contemporary debates about art and its role in society. Examining similar works by Grandjean's contemporaries can shed light on the artistic conventions and innovations of the Neoclassical period.