Young Male Nude Seated beside the Sea / Jean-Hippolyte Flandrin
The painting that was executed between 1835 and 1836 gained attention among contemporary French art critics and remains one of Flandrin's (FR) best-known works - despite being produced relatively early in his career. The subject is an unidentified youth, an "ephebe" who sits nude on a rock with his arms wrapped around his legs and his head resting on his knees, eyes closed. There is a sea in the background, and no distinguishable landmarks locate the figure. The enigmatic scene provides no explanation for the figure's pose: It was commented that the young man could be shipwrecked on a deserted island, or be a shepherd who has lost his flock. Ultimately, any explanation for this scene is left to the imagination, leading to comparisons with Surrealist art in the twentieth century.
credit: Lammerhuber
Young Male Nude Seated beside the Sea / Jean-Hippolyte Flandrin
The painting that was executed between 1835 and 1836 gained attention among contemporary French art critics and remains one of Flandrin's (FR) best-known works - despite being produced relatively early in his career. The subject is an unidentified youth, an "ephebe" who sits nude on a rock with his arms wrapped around his legs and his head resting on his knees, eyes closed. There is a sea in the background, and no distinguishable landmarks locate the figure. The enigmatic scene provides no explanation for the figure's pose: It was commented that the young man could be shipwrecked on a deserted island, or be a shepherd who has lost his flock. Ultimately, any explanation for this scene is left to the imagination, leading to comparisons with Surrealist art in the twentieth century.
credit: Lammerhuber