186 Paul Renard – Study of a Male Nude – Pencil Drawing (c. 1900s)

This finely detailed anatomical study of a male figure is a superb example of academic life drawing, executed by Paul Renard during the early 20th century. The composition focuses on the muscular structure and natural posture of the human body, rendered with precision and fluidity characteristic of classical figure studies. The subject is depicted from the back, holding a branch and a staff, with strong anatomical accuracy and attention to the play of light and shadow across the musculature. Renard’s choice of pencil as a medium allows for subtle gradations of tone, enhancing the realism of the contours and the environmental textures. This drawing likely served as an academic study or preparatory sketch, reflecting the rigorous training of European art academies at that time.