Artwork
Man's Head
Man's Head is a print by Paul B. Travis. It dates from 1926 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Created in 1926, Paul B.
About this work
The subject's features are rendered in detail, with a focus on the contours of his face and the texture of his hair.
This portrait painting features a man's head, with his right hand resting on his chin. The subject has short, dark hair and looks to the right with a neutral expression. His hand is positioned in front of his face, with his fingers curled over his chin.
The artist has used a range of dark tones to create depth and dimension in the painting. The subject's features are rendered in detail, with a focus on the contours of his face and the texture of his hair.
If you're interested in learning more about the artist behind this work, you might want to look up Paul B. Travis (American, 1891–1975).
Overview
Created in 1926, Paul B. Travis’s print titled “Man’s Head” is part of the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection. The work presents a close‑up view of a male sitter, rendered in a restrained palette that emphasizes form over color.
Subject & Meaning
The figure is shown in three‑quarter profile, his right hand supporting his chin as he gazes to the right with a neutral expression. The pose, reminiscent of classical portraiture, invites contemplation of the sitter’s inner life without overt narrative cues.
Technique & Style
Travis employs a limited range of dark tones to model the face, using fine line work and shading to suggest the texture of hair and the contours of the jaw. The print’s surface bears subtle variations in pressure, giving depth to the features while maintaining a flat, graphic quality.
History & Provenance
The print entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings after its creation, though the exact acquisition details are not recorded in the available sources. It remains a representative example of Travis’s early twentieth‑century printmaking.
Context
Paul B. Travis (1891–1975) was active during a period when American artists explored both realism and emerging modernist tendencies. “Man’s Head” reflects the era’s interest in psychological portraiture, aligning with contemporary explorations of identity through simplified, tonal compositions.
Artist & collection
