Self-Portrait (Head of a Man) or Portrait of an Elderly Man
Original print on paper, likely an etching or drypoint • Leonard Baskin (suggested by stylistic similarity and signature)
Style & Movement
Modernism / Expressionist Realism
Medium & Technique
Etching or drypoint with fine-line cross-hatching and expressive linework on light green-grey wove paper
Creation Period
Mid-20th Century (circa 1940-1960)
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 12 x 9 inches (plate size), portrait format on larger rectangular sheet
Subject Description
A psychological portrait of an elderly bearded man in three-quarter profile. The composition focuses on the intensity of the gaze, with heavy cross-hatching around the eyes creating a mask-like effect of shadow or trauma. The hair and beard are rendered with fluid, organic lines characteristic of 20th-century printmakers concerned with mortality and the human condition.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good; visible rippling of the paper at the edges and slight oxidation/toning
Estimated Market Value
$400 - $800 USD
Auction Estimate
$300 - $600 USD
Provenance History
Lower left inscription 'Hors Commerce' indicates this was a non-commercial proof intended for the artist or publisher; signed in pencil lower right
Art Historical Significance
Representative of the mid-century revival of figurative printmaking that explored existential themes; demonstrates the mastery of line to convey deep psychological interiority.
Notable Features
The 'Hors Commerce' (H.C.) designation marks this as a rare proof outside the standard numbered edition; the use of colored paper stock adds a somber, atmospheric tonal quality to the work.
Condition Issues
Mild paper buckling (cockling) along the left and right margins; potential minor light-staining; ink smudge visible in the upper left plate area (likely original to the printing process).
Conservation Recommendations
Professional flattening under controlled humidity; archival mounting using acid-free materials; framing with UV-protective museum glass to prevent further pigment/paper degradation.