“Head of a Young Man” is a pencil sketch on paper created by Vincent van Gogh around 1885 in Nuenen, Netherlands. This artwork, rendered in the Realism art movement, is classified under the genre of sketch and study. It currently resides at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
The artwork depicts a young man in profile, executed with meticulous and expressive lines characteristic of van Gogh’s early studies. The subject wears a cap and a coarse garment, and the focus on the face suggests an attempt to capture the emotional depth and individuality of the sitter. The use of pencil allows for a range of tonal variations, adding to the texture and realism of the drawing. The simplicity of the medium contrasts with the complexity and intensity of the expression, highlighting van Gogh’s skill in rendering human emotion and character.
