Male Nude II (1972) is an early R.C. Gorman stone lithograph depicting a seated male nude in a compact, contemplative pose. One arm drapes across a raised knee while the figure’s head tilts downward, creating a sense of inward reflection and quiet tension. The extended leg and prominently rendered foot draw the composition outward, balancing the compressed upper body with a strong diagonal movement.
Gorman models the figure through economical contour lines, subtle graphite-like shading, and loosely worked marks that form a soft tonal field behind the body. The restrained black-and-white palette gives the lithograph the immediacy of a studio drawing while emphasizing anatomy, gesture, and sculptural form. Produced in a small edition of only 30, Male Nude II is a scarce example of Gorman’s early male figure studies and an important work for collectors of monochrome lithographs, figurative art, and limited-edition works on paper.
