A large ink portrait of exceptional psychological intensity — a close-up of a bald man's head and face, the composition filling the picture field with the face from crown to chin. The baldness is the portrait's most distinctive formal element: the large smooth dome of the head, described with a single outer contour and a few minimal interior marks, creates a strong rounded form against the cream ground. The face below is the zone of maximum expressiveness.
The eyes are the most elaborately described elements in any ink portrait: the left eye drawn with multiple layered marks building the socket shadow, lashes, and iris; the right eye given similarly sustained attention. Both eyes look outward with an expression of wary, experienced assessment. This person has seen things.
Below the eyes, the nose is drawn with the most specific nostril description in the collection — the flaring shape precisely indicated. The mouth and chin below carry a mustache and beard described in rapid hatching marks, the texture of the facial hair contrasting with the smooth dome above.
The ear at the right — barely visible at the edge of the rounded head — is given the characteristic Cothran attention. The neck and bare shoulder below are described with minimal marks.
This portrait is among the most formally severe in the collection: the bald head, the watchful eyes, the facial hair, the close-up view — all contributing to a portrait that asks to be taken seriously.