#19478 Marino Marini

The drawing presents a portrait study, executed in a manner suggesting rapid execution and expressive intent. Here we observe a male figure depicted in profile, his gaze directed upwards and slightly to the left. The artist has employed a limited palette of muted browns, grays, and touches of blue-green, contributing to an overall somber and introspective mood.
The face is rendered with a degree of angularity; prominent features such as the nose and brow ridge are emphasized, lending the subject a sense of gravitas or perhaps even melancholy. The artist has used loose, gestural lines to define the contours of the face and hair, creating a textured surface that conveys movement and vitality despite the stillness of the pose. There is an intentional lack of precise detail; features are suggested rather than meticulously rendered, which contributes to a sense of immediacy and psychological depth.
The subject’s attire includes what appears to be a hat or cap, sketched with broad strokes that blend into the background. The background itself is indistinct, composed of washes of color that seem to dissolve around the figure, further isolating him within the composition.
A signature, p.m. followed by “MARINO” and a date (1963), appears in the lower right corner, providing contextual information about the works creation. The placement is relatively discreet, suggesting it was added as an afterthought rather than being integral to the overall design.
Subtly, the drawing conveys a sense of contemplation or perhaps even weariness. The upward gaze and the somber coloring suggest a figure lost in thought, burdened by experience. The expressive brushwork hints at an underlying emotional intensity that is not explicitly stated but felt through the visual language of the piece. It’s likely intended as a study for a larger work, capturing a fleeting impression rather than aiming for photographic realism.