Portrait in Outline late 18th - early 19th century

This ink-on-paper drawing, "Portrait in Outline" by renowned Japanese artist Minagawa Kien (1734-1807), depicts a seated figure in profile, likely a scholar, with a focus on expressive lines and minimal detail. The artist, known for his masterful brushwork, captures the subject's form and posture with fluid strokes, highlighting the essence of the individual. Created in the late 18th or early 19th century, this artwork exemplifies Kien's signature style, a departure from traditional portraiture, embodying the spirit of Japanese aesthetics of the time.