Head of a Man 1892

Curator: This is "Head of a Man" by Adolph Menzel, held here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: There's such an intimate feel to it, almost like catching a glimpse of someone deep in thought. Curator: Menzel, born in 1815, was known for his social realism. He captured everyday life with extraordinary detail. This study gives us a man in profile, seemingly unposed. Editor: The charcoal seems to capture not just his likeness but his very essence. It's interesting how Menzel uses such dark strokes to give depth, but there's a tenderness in the rendering too. Curator: The lack of idealization, the visible strokes, contribute to a sense of immediacy. It's a window into 19th-century life, beyond the grand narratives. Editor: It makes you wonder what he was thinking about. I like that ambiguity.