Head of an Old Man 1885

Here we see Vincent van Gogh's "Head of an Old Man," a drawing rendered with forceful charcoal lines on paper. The composition is dominated by the stark contrast between the dark lines that define the man's features and the pale, untouched background. The drawing captures a sense of age and experience, emphasized by the heavy strokes delineating the beard and brow. Van Gogh's technique here departs from traditional portraiture, favoring expressive mark-making over precise representation. The bold, almost crude strokes, challenge conventional ideas of beauty. The structural elements within the artwork point to Van Gogh's interest in capturing the essence of his subject. The sketch also demonstrates a move away from realism towards a more subjective and expressive mode of art-making. It destabilizes the traditional notion of the portrait. In essence, the power of this drawing lies not just in what it depicts, but in how it challenges and redefines artistic conventions.