Who painted Figure Resting Head on Hand?

Figure Resting Head on Hand was painted by Paul Cezanne in 1889.

Where can I see Figure Resting Head on Hand?

Figure Resting Head on Hand is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Figure Resting Head on Hand?

Figure Resting Head on Hand is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Figure Resting Head on Hand

Paul Cezanne , 1889

Figure Resting Head on Hand is a graphite drawing by the Impressionist artist Paul Cezanne. It dates from 1889 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Figure Resting Head on Hand is a graphite drawing on wove paper executed by Paul Cézanne around 1889. The work measures a modest size typical of his studies and presents a solitary figure in a contemplative pose, rendered in monochrome with a focus on line and tonal variation.

Subject & Meaning

The composition depicts a seated individual whose head leans on a hand, creating a moment of quiet repose. The pose is devoid of narrative detail, inviting viewers to consider the simple act of stillness and the subtle tension between the body’s weight and the supporting hand.

Technique & Style

Cézanne employs loose yet deliberate graphite strokes to outline the figure, while varying pressure to achieve a range of darks and lights. This use of chiaroscuro in a drawing emphasizes volume and form, allowing the contours of the head and arm to emerge through contrast rather than color.

History & Provenance

Created in the late 1880s, the drawing belongs to a period when Cézanne was intensively exploring the fundamentals of shape and light through studies. It has remained within the artist’s oeuvre of preparatory works, documented in catalogues raisonnés, and is presently held in a public collection dedicated to 19th‑century French art.