A Bearded Man and a Man in Profile [verso]

The composition juxtaposes a bearded sitter with a second figure rendered in profile, suggesting a study of character and interpersonal contrast. While no narrative is supplied, the pairing invites contemplation of identity and the social roles of men in the late‑19th‑century milieu that preoccupied Gauguin.

Gauguin employed a combination of graphite for line work and crayon for tonal shading, allowing subtle variations of texture on the wove paper support. The drawing exhibits a departure from the fleeting brushwork of Impressionism, favoring more deliberate contours and a simplified, expressive handling of form that anticipates his later Symbolist concerns.

The piece belongs to the period when Gauguin was expanding his practice beyond painting to include drawing, printmaking, and sculpture. It reflects his early graphic production before the development of his mature Synthetist style. The work entered the National Gallery of Art’s collection through acquisition in the mid‑20th century, though earlier ownership details remain sparse.

During the mid‑1880s Gauguin was increasingly dissatisfied with the conventions of French Impressionism, seeking a more structured visual language. This drawing aligns with his broader search for symbolic content and a heightened emotional resonance, traits that would later define his contributions to Post‑Impressionism and Symbolism.