A Reclining Male Nude 1723

Bernard Picart made this sanguine drawing of a reclining male nude in 1723. During Picart's lifetime, images of the male nude circulated within a complex set of social and cultural codes that often conflated the aesthetic and the erotic. Consider this figure’s open posture and gaze directed upward and away, inviting a viewer's gaze. The tradition of depicting the male nude stretches back to antiquity, often idealizing male beauty and strength. However, the sensuality of the pose complicates any straightforward reading. In the 18th century, erotic imagery was quite common, and depictions of nude figures were regulated by social standards of class and gender. This image invites us to reflect on the ways in which bodies are represented and how these representations reflect and shape social identities and power dynamics. It also asks us to consider the gaze and the emotional resonance of this very human, very vulnerable figure.