Head of a Chinese Man by Thomas Schofield Handforth

Head of a Chinese Man c. 1932 - 1934

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drawing, pencil, graphite

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portrait

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pencil drawn

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drawing

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facial expression drawing

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light pencil work

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shading to add clarity

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pencil sketch

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figuration

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pencil drawing

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pen-ink sketch

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pencil

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limited contrast and shading

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graphite

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portrait drawing

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pencil work

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academic-art

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realism

Dimensions: image (irregular): 24.13 × 17.15 cm (9 1/2 × 6 3/4 in.) sheet: 28.73 × 22.23 cm (11 5/16 × 8 3/4 in.)

Copyright: National Gallery of Art: CC0 1.0

This is Head of a Chinese Man, a pencil on paper piece made by Thomas Schofield Handforth. The way Handforth’s built up the shading, it's clear this wasn't about capturing a perfect likeness, but more about the process of drawing itself. The texture of the paper comes through, giving the whole thing a slightly rough, immediate feel. Look at the side of his face and how the shadow seems to have been smudged with a finger! The softness contrasts with the more defined lines of his hat and mustache. There's a real push-and-pull here, and it's not just about light and dark. It's about how much to reveal. This reminds me of some of Käthe Kollwitz's portraits, where the starkness of the lines conveys deep emotion and an unflinching honesty. Art isn't just about what we see, but how we feel, and pieces like this invite us to bring our own experiences to the table.

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