Week #38, Figure Drawing, A Man sitting on his Haunches

Two versions of A Man sitting on his Haunches, c. 1955, pen on paper, various sizes.

This week we have an interesting figure study that Dusti Bongé drew twice in a row in both a small sketchbook and on a loose sheet of paper. There are also several portrait studies of this character that are focused on his face and of him in different positions.

Both these drawings show a gentleman sitting on his haunches with his arms crossed over his knees. Although this figure is not a nude model, as one can clearly see his trousers indicated around his ankles, it still could be from a life drawing session in the studio. Although Dusti often would do studies of people around her in various positions, doing whatever they were doing, like reading or napping, this is probably not one of those occasions. The squatting pose this man strikes here is not one typically taken by the Western male who is casually hanging out. It is of course quite common in certain East Asian cultures. 

Both these drawings are great examples of contour drawings, where the artist focuses on laying down the lines that define the important contours of the model, capturing their essence with a minimum of embellishment. The figure’s crouched down position is simply indicated by a few curved and V-shaped contours, and his slightly spread-out feet. His folded arms and large hand too are shown by a few mere angular traces. The inherent forward leaning nature of sitting on one’s haunches is evident in the foreshortening of his limbs and the prominence of his head. The latter shows a distinctive face with a long nose, strong jaw, full lips and a full head of hair.