#19381 Marsden Hartley (1877-1943)

The composition presents a frontal portrait of a man set against a dark, almost black background. The artist employs a limited palette dominated by shades of red, blue, and gray, applied with visible brushstrokes that contribute to the paintings textural quality.
Here we see the subject’s face rendered in a flat, simplified manner, devoid of subtle shading or realistic detail. His skin is uniformly red, contrasting sharply with his piercing blue eyes and neatly trimmed white mustache. The hair, also gray, is depicted as a block of color above his forehead. The mans expression appears neutral, bordering on stoic; there’s an absence of overt emotion conveyed through the features.
He wears what seems to be a shirt or jacket, its collar rendered in a vertical red band that draws the eye upward towards the face. The blue fabric is applied with broad strokes, creating a sense of movement and dynamism within the otherwise static composition.
Scattered across the background are stylized, almost symbolic forms. These appear as abstract floral or plant-like shapes, interspersed with what might be interpreted as animal figures – perhaps bulls or other horned creatures – rendered in dark tones that blend into the surrounding darkness. Their presence introduces an element of ambiguity and potential narrative depth to the work.
The overall effect is one of deliberate artificiality. The use of non-naturalistic color and simplified forms suggests a focus on conveying psychological states or symbolic meaning rather than achieving photographic realism. The stark contrast between the brightly colored figure and the dark background creates a sense of isolation, while the enigmatic symbols in the background hint at an underlying narrative that remains open to interpretation. It is possible to read this as a representation of inner turmoil or a commentary on societal structures, though definitive conclusions are difficult to draw given the painting’s symbolic language.