The artwork titled “Orphan Man with Top Hat and Hands Crossed” by Vincent van Gogh, created in 1882 in The Hague, Netherlands, is a pencil drawing on paper that exemplifies the Realism art movement. It is a portrait genre piece, currently located in the Kröller-Müller Museum in Otterlo, Netherlands.
The drawing features an elderly man standing with a somber expression. He is depicted wearing a long, heavy coat that reaches down to his legs, which are positioned close together. The man’s hands are tightly crossed at his waist, suggesting a sense of forlornness or introspection. His top hat, slightly tilted, adds to the formal yet melancholic aura of his appearance. The simplicity of the pencil medium enhances the stark, contemplative mood of the subject, reflecting van Gogh’s keen observation and empathy for the marginalized individuals of his time. The use of shading and line work provides depth and texture, bringing a lifelike quality to the man’s attire and demeanor.
