The artwork “Head of a Girl, Bareheaded, and Head of a Man with Beard and Cap” is a sketch by Vincent van Gogh created around 1884 in Nunen/Nuenen, Netherlands. The medium used is chalk on paper, and it is categorically considered part of the Realism movement, specifically a sketch and study. The piece currently resides in the Van Gogh Museum located in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
The artwork depicts two side-by-side portraits, drawn with confident, hatched lines that reveal a sense of immediacy and observation. On the left, there’s a depiction of a young girl who is bareheaded, looking to the side with a neutral expression. Her hair is neatly pulled back, and her clothing appears to be simply rendered. On the right, there’s an older man with a beard, wearing a cap. His features are more roughly sketched, with attention to the texture of his beard and the shadow of his cap projecting on his face. Both subjects are portrayed in profile, suggesting a candid capture of their likenesses, with the artist’s focus on their distinct facial features rather than their attire or background. The intricacy of the lines and the play of light and shadow give depth to the portraits, showcasing van Gogh’s skill in conveying character through his drawings.
