A Profile and Four Shapes; Sketch of a Man's Head [recto]

The complex drawing, A Profile and Four Shapes; Sketch of a Man's Head [recto], was executed by Paul Gauguin sometime between 1884 and 1888. This piece, classified as a drawing, showcases the artist’s characteristic use of mixed media: crayon, graphite, and pen and brown ink, applied judiciously to wove paper. Created during the crucial years when Gauguin was distancing himself from the established Impressionist circle and developing his signature Symbolist and Synthetic styles, the work exemplifies the experimental energy characteristic of the French art world in the period between 1876 to 1900.

The recto side of the sheet presents a dual study. The "Sketch of a Man’s Head" is rendered primarily in careful graphite lines, detailing a focused, realistic representation, likely intended as a preparatory figure study. Juxtaposed against this realistic depiction is the second study, "A Profile and Four Shapes," which utilizes ink and crayon to explore geometric simplification and planar form. Gauguin frequently used drawings such as this for rapid visual note-taking or for working through abstract compositional elements destined for larger oil paintings or woodblock prints.

This juxtaposition of the analytical profile against more expressive, inked shapes demonstrates Gauguin's developing interest in simplifying natural forms into essential, color-blocked components, a technique that would define his groundbreaking Post-Impressionist career. As a vital example of Gauguin’s transitional years, this drawing offers unique insight into the conceptual underpinnings of his mature style. The work is held within the esteemed collection of the National Gallery of Art. Drawings and sketches from this significant period, once stabilized and conserved, often enter the public domain, allowing high-quality archival prints and references to be widely accessible for scholarly study.