Head of a Young Man in Profile, to the Left 18th century

This is a small charcoal drawing called "Head of a Young Man in Profile, to the Left," made by an anonymous artist. The young man is depicted with his eyes closed or cast downward, creating a sense of introspection or melancholy. The anonymity of the artist and the sitter invites speculation. Whose gaze are we adopting here? Is it an intimate observation or a detached study? Consider the historical context in which such a portrait would have been created, most likely by an artist in training. Often, artists would use friends as models, or befriend their models. The closed eyes of the young man can be thought of as symbolic of many things, including the historical marginalization and invisibility of male intimacy. The use of charcoal lends the piece a raw, immediate quality, as if capturing a fleeting moment. The lack of specific detail encourages us to project our own emotions and experiences onto the figure. The young man’s identity becomes less important than the feelings the piece evokes, perhaps mirroring the artist’s own emotional landscape.