The artwork, titled “Head of a Fisherman with a Fringe of Beard and a Sou’wester,” was crafted by the renowned artist Vincent van Gogh around the year 1883 in The Hague, Netherlands. Executed using a combination of pencil, wash, ink, watercolor on paper, this work is a poignant example of the Realism movement. It is categorized as a portrait and is currently housed at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
The artwork portrays the visage of an elderly fisherman, characterized by a fringe of beard and adorned with a traditional sou’wester hat, often used by fishermen for protection against the elements. The expression on the subject’s face is contemplative, conveying a sense of stoic endurance. The nuanced use of pencil, wash, ink, and watercolor allows Van Gogh to delicately capture the textures and shadows of the fisherman’s weathered face. The dark tones and meticulous details contribute to the realism, imbuing the portrait with a lifelike and solemn presence that reflects the hardships and resilience of the fisherman’s life.
