#36160 Franco Gentilini

The drawing presents a portrait study executed in pastel and pencil on paper. Here we observe a male figure depicted from the chest upwards, his face occupying the central focus. The artist has rendered him with a distinct lack of conventional beauty; instead, an unsettling quality pervades the portrayal.
The subject’s features are fragmented and distorted. One eye is disproportionately large, appearing almost detached, while the other is partially obscured by shadow. A prominent mustache dominates the lower portion of his face, its dark hue contrasting sharply with the pale pink tones used for the cheeks and forehead. The shading around the mouth suggests a downturned expression, hinting at melancholy or perhaps resignation.
A cap sits atop the head, sketched with loose lines that contribute to the overall sense of incompleteness. The neck is slender, merging into what appears to be a high-collared garment. The background is minimal, allowing the figure’s unsettling presence to command full attention.
The artists use of color and line creates an atmosphere of psychological tension. The dark patches across the face – particularly the one covering part of the left side – suggest concealment or trauma. They disrupt the expected symmetry and contribute to a feeling of unease, as if something is being deliberately hidden from view.
The inscription in the upper left corner, along with the date 81, provides contextual information without explicitly identifying the subject. The style suggests an exploration of human psychology through distorted representation, moving beyond mere physical likeness towards conveying emotional states or internal struggles. It’s a study that seems less concerned with capturing outward appearance and more invested in revealing something about the inner life of the portrayed individual.