Solon H. Borglum, born Ogden, UT - Four Arm Studies, #1 - 12-1895 - T-Shirt

A pen and ink anatomy sheet of four flexed arms and clenched fists, drawn on pale paper and inscribed Studies of Anatomy.

Visual Elements & Composition

The drawing is built from fine, directional hatching in sepia ink on ivory paper, and the paper itself covers most of the frame. The sheet divides into two halves, each repeating the same gesture: a raised arm with a clenched fist at the top, and a lower arm bent sharply at the elbow with the fist held near the chest. A small separate sketch of a closed fist sits at the far left. Shading traces the biceps and forearm, so the limbs read as muscle rather than outline. A pencilled line along the lower edge reads Studies of Anatomy, and the date Dec appears among the marks.

Meaning & Symbolism

Each study isolates one action, a raised or flexed arm, and examines how the biceps, forearm and shoulder shift as the limb moves. The repetition turns the page into a working exercise: a single motion seen from several angles until the form is understood well enough to model. Solon Borglum (1868-1922) was born in Ogden, Utah, and worked chiefly as a sculptor, with animal and figure subjects forming much of his output. He was the younger brother of Gutzon Borglum. Studies like this, dated December 1895, record the anatomical training behind his figure work, where muscle and joint had to be mastered before a figure could be modelled in three dimensions.

On the Unisex Heavy Cotton Tee

A drawing this detailed rewards a close look, and a tee puts it at chest height, where the hatching and the inscription can be read as the wearer moves. The sheet's pale ground and open layout suit the front of a plain shirt, letting the arms stand out without crowding the frame. Worn, it carries a piece of academic draughtsmanship from 1895 into everyday wear.