Why does this drawing feel modern?
Even if you’re not schooled in art history, you can tell that it’s not made in the past hundred years. It looks classical, you think, maybe Renaissance-y. Made around 1500 or 1600? Right, the artist is anonymous, but 16th century is about right.
Then why the modern feel?
Because it’s obvious that the artist didn’t do this for anybody else. It’s not a finished product, ready for unveiling. The super-powerful client in his velvet robes never saw this drawing. In this drawing the artist was working for himself, he was working out the foreshortened upper arm. So weird. How did he get up the courage to tackle this weirdness? Because he looked at reality. The clear, well-defined, old formulae no longer sufficed. So, let’s see, what do I actually see here? Really? No identifiable muscles, not clear anatomy. Doesn’t make sense. Too confusing. But that’s what I actually see. Gotta draw what I see.
He confronted his own confusion.
When you look at this drawing you empathize with the artist as he stares at uncertainties. That’s why it feels modern.
So, of course, it’s incomplete.
On the subject of “working it out,” see also https://artamaze.wordpress.com/2015/04/03/working-it-out/
All contents copyright (C) 2010 Katherine Hilden. All rights reserved.
http://www.katherinehilden.com
http://katherinehilden.wordpress.com
artamaze by Katherine Hilden 
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