Profile Bust of a Man (verso)

The drawing Profile Bust of a Man (verso) by Paul Gauguin, executed in graphite between 1870 and 1879, offers a direct look into the formative years of the Post-Impressionist master. Classified simply as a drawing, this piece stems from a period when Gauguin was still establishing himself artistically, often balancing his work as a stockbroker with his growing commitment to painting and sketching.

The medium, graphite, lends itself to sharp, focused definition, allowing Gauguin to concentrate on the structure and contour of the male sitter’s head in profile. Unlike the later, flattened color fields and radical Synthetist style he would champion, this early work, originating in France, demonstrates a conventional approach to academic observation and portraiture prevalent in the 1870s. This classification as a drawing or study suggests the artist was engaged in preparatory work or figure exercises aimed at mastering human anatomy and expression.

The existence of a sketch on the verso (reverse side) implies the spontaneous, economical use of materials typical of an artist developing his craft. It is works such as Profile Bust of a Man (verso) that document the evolution from Gauguin’s early, precise realism toward the emotionally charged Symbolism that defined his career.

This significant document of the artist's beginnings is housed in the permanent collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. For researchers and enthusiasts of French art history, high-quality images of this piece, sometimes designated as public domain art, are often made available by the museum, allowing access to the early stages of Gauguin’s transition before he became internationally known for his colorful paintings and prints.