Bärtiger alter Mann mit üppigem Haupthaar in Vorderansicht, den Blick nach rechts gerichtet 

Curator: Before us, we have a captivating drawing titled "Bärtiger alter Mann mit üppigem Haupthaar in Vorderansicht, den Blick nach rechts gerichtet"—which translates to "Bearded Old Man with Lush Hair in Front View, Looking to the Right". It's housed right here in the Städel Museum. Editor: My first impression is the raw, almost brutal honesty in the man's expression. He looks worn, weathered, and perhaps a little distrustful. The artist really captured a certain gravitas. Curator: Absolutely. I'm particularly drawn to the almost archetypal symbolism of the long hair and beard. Throughout history, they have represented wisdom, age, even a connection to primal forces, and perhaps a biblical or mythical feel, evoking images of prophets and ancient seers. Editor: It’s intriguing. From a material perspective, you can see the artist experimenting here. The layering of charcoal, chalk, and maybe pencil on paper creates a wonderfully textured surface. Look at the smudging around the face and the relatively rough strokes defining his clothing; there’s no attempt to disguise the making of the work. This isn't striving for polished perfection. Curator: Precisely, the materials also evoke the traditions in portraiture over time. And while the drawing seems unfinished, or perhaps a preparatory study, this only adds to its power, highlighting the fragility of human existence and even suggests mortality. Editor: I'm struck by how the very act of rendering this face becomes a kind of performance. The varying pressures, the mark-making—they record a physical and mental engagement between the artist and their subject, a certain energy. You can practically sense the artist wrestling with the material, striving to get something down quickly, possibly a passing impression. Curator: This aligns with many cultures as memory keeping through time and suggests cultural pride through a single powerful image of an ancestor or an individual respected in the culture. The portrait resonates even in today’s context because of its capacity to stir emotion by focusing on shared symbolism and portrait traditions throughout history. Editor: It's a powerful reminder that even the simplest of materials, used with intention and skill, can capture not just a likeness, but also something profoundly human. Curator: I agree; the work uses universally recognizable symbols and recognizable visual structures in a memorable way. Editor: The piece’s reliance on process invites us to really observe its materials, its methods, and ultimately to contemplate the conditions of its creation.