2025-09-05

BEHIND THE PAINTINGS: Discobolos in Dark Lights – The Beauty of the Male Body in Motion

About the Dark Lights Series

Dark Lights is my first complete painting series from 2018 focused on the male figure. The bodies are muscular, nude, and set against dark backgrounds — often a blend of pink or skin tones with black, or green with black. These backgrounds are never fully black, but suggest a shadowy atmosphere from which the body emerges. The series explores vulnerability, strength, and beauty.

Discobolos: Classical Motif, Contemporary Interpretation

My painting Discobolos is inspired by the famous sculpture by Myron from the 5th century BC. While classical athletes were traditionally depicted in static poses, Myron captured a moment of tension and motion. My version is not a reproduction but a fragment — a frontal view of the twisted body, without the discus. The viewer is confronted with a nude man: is it a Greek statue or a modern figure?

Erotic, Not Sexual

The nudity is essential, but not sexual. Like in classical antiquity, it’s about portraying the beauty of the male body. By working in black-and-white tones, I soften the image and give it a poetic quality. The work is partly erotic, but open to interpretation.

Geometry as Visual Disruption

In Discobolos, I added geometric, transparent color blocks. They cut through the body and bring rhythm and energy. This makes the painting more dynamic and sets it apart from the rest of the series, while maintaining its thematic core.

Schermer Kunstdagen 2018

During the Schermer Kunstdagen, my work was part of a group exhibition at Atelier de Schermer, alongside artists such as Wilma Hoebee, Lyda Dijkstra-Pastoor, Hans Brinks, and Romee Kanis. The exhibition drew a large audience and offered a rich mix of styles. My work sparked curiosity and dialogue — exactly what Dark Lights aims to do.

In the Press: De Uitkomst

In a review published in De Uitkomst (June 28, 2018), journalist Trees Schouten wrote:
“Ruud van Straten creates oil paintings, mainly of ‘beautiful men’. Very muscular and very ‘good looking’, as he laughingly says: ‘I can’t get a woman on paper.’” A playful yet accurate description of my work — full of humor, emotion, and a distinctive view of the male body.

Let People Look…

Dark Lights doesn’t offer answers. It invites people to look. Is it homoerotic? Is it classical? Is it modern? Let people see what they see.

Would you like to share what your thougts are on this painting? Just leave your reaction…