Getty Museum
Two Male Nudes
Creator
Cornelis Cornelisz van HaarlemDutch Artist · 1562–1638
All works by this person →Born to a wealthy family, Cornelis Cornelisz. van Haarlem trained locally in Haarlem, then traveled to Rouen, France, in 1579. After perhaps a year of study in Antwerp, he returned to Haarlem. Cornelisz.'s first official commission, a militia company portrait, brought him great acclaim. A milestone in Dutch group depictions, it influenced Frans Hals and later Amsterdam painters with its liveliness
More on Getty ULAN- Date
- about 1590
- Medium
- Oil, on paper grisaille
- Culture
- Dutch
- Department
- Drawings
- Institution
- Getty Museum
In this dark, erotic scene, it was the extended and twisted poses of the two male nudes that interested Cornelis Cornelisz. van Haarlem, not their facial expressions. The larger man turns his head away from the viewer, grasping the young boy's foot in his left hand, his right arm sensually wrapped around the boy's body. The boy sits splay-legged, leaning back against the man's arm with his face hidden in the forceful embrace of the man. Van Haarlem used modulated tones to suggest texture as revealed by gradations of light. Gleaming highlights reflect off the smooth, muscular bodies, showing off the dimpled texture of their flesh. Delicate white, almost frothy strokes form the leafy trees in the background.
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