Artwork
Male Head
Male Head is a watercolor work on paper by David Carr. It dates from 1968 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
David Carr’s 1968 watercolor titled *Male Head* presents a solitary portrait rendered in a limited palette of blues and greens. The composition centers on the sitter’s face, set against a muted background that recedes gently, allowing the figure to dominate the visual field. The work belongs to the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts an unidentified male subject, his features suggested rather than fully delineated. The abstraction of facial details through tonal variation invites contemplation of identity and mood, while the restrained color scheme emphasizes a contemplative, perhaps introspective atmosphere.
Technique & Style
Carr employs the fluidity of watercolor to achieve a soft, atmospheric effect, layering washes of blue and green to model the head. Loose, gestural brushstrokes convey a sense of movement, and the interplay of light and shadow is achieved through transparent washes that allow underlying tones to emerge.
History & Provenance
Created in 1968, the piece entered the Victoria and Albert Museum’s holdings, where it remains on display. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s interest in mid‑twentieth‑century British watercolors and contributes to the broader representation of Carr’s oeuvre within the institution’s collection.
Artist & collection
Artist
David Carr painted tight, single-figure watercolors in the late 1960s. In the Tate’s holdings you’ll find his Male Head from 1968, a close-up study of a man’s features rendered in fluid washes of indigo and ochre. The…
