The old man with the cigarette Joaquin Sorolla y Bastida (1863-1923)

Here we observe a portrait study focusing on an elderly male figure. The composition is tightly cropped, centering almost entirely on his head and upper torso. He wears a dark beret that casts shadows across his face, emphasizing the deep lines etched by time and experience. A cigarette is held between his lips, its smoke subtly blurring the background.
The artist’s handling of paint is expressive; brushstrokes are visible and contribute to a sense of immediacy and raw emotion. The color palette is muted, dominated by grays, browns, and ochres, with touches of red highlighting areas like the nose and cheeks, suggesting both vitality and vulnerability. Light appears to emanate from within the figure, illuminating his face while leaving the surrounding space in relative darkness. This creates a dramatic contrast that draws attention to his features.
The man’s gaze is direct and unwavering; it conveys a sense of weariness but also resilience. The lines around his eyes suggest both laughter and sorrow, hinting at a complex inner life. His skin appears weathered and rough, indicative of a life lived outdoors or under harsh conditions.
Subtly, the cigarette introduces themes of contemplation, perhaps even regret. It could symbolize fleeting pleasures in the face of mortality, or serve as a visual shorthand for a particular lifestyle – one marked by hardship but also defiance. The background is indistinct and blurred, suggesting that the subject’s internal world takes precedence over any specific location or narrative context.
The overall impression is one of quiet dignity and profound introspection. This is not merely a depiction of an old man; its a study in character, capturing a moment of stillness and revealing something essential about the human condition.