Male Torso with Pole

Using charcoal’s deep, expressive lines alongside the softer, tonal qualities of chalk, the artist renders both the solidity of muscle and the subtle shifts of light. The grey laid paper provides a muted background that accentuates the contrast between dark outlines and delicate highlights, giving the study a swift, gestural quality.

The drawing belongs to a series of figure studies Sargent produced while observing athletes and dancers. Though its exact exhibition history is limited, similar works from this period are held by the National Gallery of Art in Washington, indicating the piece’s relevance within the artist’s broader exploration of the human form.