Jean Hippolyte-Flandrin, Naked Young Man Sitting by the Sea, 1836

Print on paper
45 x 54 cm (visible), 71 x 81 cm (framed)
Condition: Very good

-

Jean-Hippolyte Flandrin (French, 1809-1864). Active during the Neoclassical and Romantic periods, Flandrin was known for his religious art, portraits, and especially his nudes.

Here we see one of his most iconic works, Naked Young Man Sitting by the Sea, sometimes known as Young Male Nude Seated by the Sea, or Young Man Sitting by the Sea. The figure, a nude male youth, is sitting on a rock by the water, his arms wrapped around his legs, with his head down and eyes closed. The blend between an air of calm and melancholy, the vastness of the sea and his quiet pose give off a deep sense of solitude and contemplation, laying a foundation for many artists and photographers who would be influenced by it over time. Just the ambiguity of it, piqued speculations, opening conversations about his identity and purpose — to many, it was a true embodiment of classical beauty. Despite being produced in the earlier years of his career, it remains as one of Flandrin’s most celebrated works. While the piece had no intention of having a sexual subtext, it later went on to be an icon for homosexual culture in the 20th century as it gained recognition. 

Flandrin was also a student of Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, and the similarities between their paintings were evident, though this influence manifested in a way that felt natural rather than derivative or with a lack of originality.