A large, bold ink portrait of considerable psychological power — a man seen in three-quarter view, his face filling much of the picture field, the expression one of intense, watchful alertness. The receding hairline at the temples, the close-cropped hair at the crown, the slight wrinkling of the brow — all indicate a man of middle years who is fully engaged with his situation.
The eyes are the commanding element: both described with bold ink marks, the pupils dark and fixed forward, the brows above them expressing a quality of concentration or mild concern. This person is paying attention to something.
At the lower face, a mustache and beard — described in the same dense hatching marks as the hair — give the face its lower structure. The lips between the mustache and beard carry a slight openness, as if the person is about to speak or has just stopped speaking.
The collar below opens in a V at the neck, the jacket or shirt described with loose marks establishing the figure's informal dress. The overall impression is of someone drawn in a public space — a lecture, a meeting — their engagement directed outward, their attention elsewhere.