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Abraham Bloemaert

Study of a Nude Man

1645–51
Black chalk on buff laid paper
13.6 × 19.4 cm (5.4 × 7.6 in)

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In the collection of Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago · as of July 2026

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FROM THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO’S CATALOG

Abraham Bloemaert here used black chalk to carefully render a nude figure with notched ribs. The apparent strain in the figure’s sinewy muscles and the schematic rendering of support underneath his body suggest that the artist drew this figure from a live model. The rigid outline of the man’s body in addition to the short, hatched lines used for shading imply that Bloemaert could have conceived of this drawing for a pedagogical purpose. Bloemaert supervised dozens of pupils and is known to have organized life-drawing sessions with his contemporary Paulus Moreelse (1571–1638). Abraham’s son Frederick later published a book of prints based on his father’s drawings with the intention of providing additional sources for artistic training.

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