Large Nude with Mirror, 1926

The painter Anton Kolig (1886–1950) presents an almost life-sized young male nude in front of a mirror. This makes it possible to show the back of the figure at the same time. Since the light in the studio illuminates the figure from behind, the front view is in the shade and the back view reflected in the mirror seems brightly lit. This simultaneous effect enhances the plasticity of the body and the detailed representation of its anatomy. In this depiction, however, the young man’s arms crossed over his chest, his bent leg and his facial expression convey shyness and fear. Kolig intensively explored the motif of standing male nudes during the 1920s. For this purpose, he regularly chose young men of athletic build as his models and had them pose in the hall of Michor Inn in Nötsch, which he was using as a studio at the time.

AK, 2022