Who painted Head of a Boy?

Head of a Boy was painted by Paul Cezanne in 1888.

Where can I see Head of a Boy?

Head of a Boy is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Head of a Boy?

Head of a Boy is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Head of a Boy

Paul Cezanne , 1888

Head of a Boy is a graphite drawing by the Impressionist artist Paul Cezanne. It dates from 1888 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Paul Cézanne’s drawing entitled *Head of a Boy* dates from 1888. Executed in graphite on wove paper, the work measures a modest size and presents a single figure rendered in a quick, gestural manner. The paper shows signs of age, with a yellowed edge and a fold, indicating its long residence in a collection or studio.

Subject & Meaning

The composition captures a young male sitter in profile, his short hair and gently defined jaw suggesting a blend of vigor and tenderness. A hand, positioned near the face, grasps a small, indeterminate object that may be a stick or a tool, hinting at a moment of everyday activity rather than a formal portrait.

Technique & Style

Cézanne employs loose, fluid pencil strokes to model light and shadow, leaving portions of the surface—such as the ear—unfilled. This selective omission emphasizes tonal contrast and conveys a sense of immediacy, characteristic of a study intended to record visual impressions rather than produce a polished finished piece.

History & Provenance

Created during the late 1880s, a period when Cézanne was refining his approach to form and volume, the drawing likely served as a preparatory sketch for a larger work or as an exercise in portraiture. Its current whereabouts are not specified, but the paper’s condition suggests it has been preserved for over a century, possibly within a private collection or museum archive.