Liegender männlicher Akt in Rückansicht, auf den rechten Unterarm gestützt 

Victor Müller created this charcoal drawing, titled "Liegender männlicher Akt in Rückansicht, auf den rechten Unterarm gestützt," or "Reclining Male Nude in Rear View, Supported on the Right Forearm" at an unknown date. In nineteenth-century European art, the male nude was less common than its female counterpart, and often used to convey strength or classical ideals. Müller, however, presents a figure that seems vulnerable. The pose, with the figure’s back turned and head partially obscured, invites us to consider the gaze and the male form differently. Is this an attempt to challenge the traditional, often hyper-masculine, depiction? Without the figure’s gaze, we are left to consider the physicality of the body itself. As we reflect on this drawing, think about how artists negotiate with social expectations around gender and representation. Can you see a sensitive portrayal of humanity in this nude?