Head of a Young Man 1885

This is Vincent van Gogh's sketch "Head of a Young Man" drawn with graphite on paper. The drawing compels us with its stark simplicity and raw emotional energy. Van Gogh’s command of line and form is evident in his contour drawing that captures the young man’s features and conveys a sense of introspection and pensiveness. The face in profile is defined by strong, confident strokes. Notice the delicate shading around the eyes and mouth, which gives the portrait depth. The structural elements of this work, line and shading, create a semiotic system, a language of form. The hatching technique to build up tone reflects Van Gogh's desire to capture not just likeness, but the inner life of his subjects. It moves beyond mere representation, engaging us in a dialogue about perception, reality, and the artist's subjective experience. It’s clear that it challenges the academic and artistic conventions of the time.