“Kenneth Dolittle” is an expressionist portrait painted in 1931 by artist Alice Neel using oil on canvas. The artwork, which belongs to the genre of portraiture, is part of the Tate Modern’s collection in London, UK.
The artwork vividly captures the figure of a man in a brown plaid suit jacket, adorned with a red tie and a brown hat. The subject’s elongated face and exaggerated features, particularly his deep-set eyes and prominent nose, exemplify the expressionist style’s focus on emotional experience rather than physical accuracy. The stark contrast between his pale, almost ghostly complexion and the background’s muted hues further accentuates the figure, evoking a sense of intensity and introspection. The man’s posture, with one hand resting on a cane and the other in his pocket, suggests a deliberate composure and self-assured demeanour. These elements combined reflect Alice Neel’s mastery in capturing not just physical likeness but the deeper essence of her subject.
