Olga Boznańska - Male head in left profile – academic drawings circa 1885
Olga Boznańska - Male head in left profile – academic drawings circa 1885
Title: Male head in left profile – academic drawings
Author: Olga Boznańska
Date: circa 1885
Type: Drawing
Medium: Graphite on paper
Dimensions: Unknown
This work consists of five sketches portraying the same man in different angles and with varied facial expressions. Four of the sketches depict the left profile, while one shows the man’s face frontally. Each drawing focuses solely on the head, omitting the neck and shoulders. They are executed on white, rectangular sheets in vertical orientation. The portraits are uniform in size, nearly filling the entire surface. The drawings rely on line alone, without shading.
The **first sketch** presents the man in left profile, with short, wavy hair receding at the temples. His forehead is furrowed, brows thin and gently arched. The eyes are open, without indicated irises. The nose is straight and medium in size, with wrinkles around it. The lips are closed, the chin softly rounded. The ear is visible. The expression appears neutral.
The **second sketch** is reduced to the left contour of the face, from hair falling onto the forehead down to the chin. The forehead and nose are pronounced, the latter marked with strong creases. The lips are slightly open, revealing the front teeth. A line from nose to mouth emphasizes the nasolabial fold.
The **third sketch** shows again the left profile, with short wavy hair and a receding hairline. The forehead and nose are deeply lined, the nose slightly hooked. Thin brows follow a soft curve. The eyes are wide open, the mouth parted to reveal the front teeth. A vertical crease runs between nose and upper lip. The chin is rounded; the ear is visible.
The **fourth sketch** depicts the man’s head slightly tilted downward. His short, wavy hair shows light recession at the temples. The brows are furrowed, the eyes large and turned upward. The nose is long and straight, the lips closed. The ear is visible. The features are softer and more delicate than in the other studies.
The **fifth sketch** presents the man frontally, from hairline to nose. His short, wavy hair recedes slightly at the sides. The forehead is broad and high; the face slender. Deeply furrowed brows overshadow open eyes, directed straight ahead. The nose is long and narrow. Both ears are visible. The expression is tense, suggesting anger or strain.
These studies reveal Boznańska’s attention to the nuances of expression and form, her ability to capture shifts in mood with only the most economical use of line.
Audio description prepared by Emilia Szymańska
Consultation: Adrian Wyka
Substantive Consultation: Urszula Kozakowska - Zaucha
Author: Olga Boznańska
Date: circa 1885
Type: Drawing
Medium: Graphite on paper
Dimensions: Unknown
This work consists of five sketches portraying the same man in different angles and with varied facial expressions. Four of the sketches depict the left profile, while one shows the man’s face frontally. Each drawing focuses solely on the head, omitting the neck and shoulders. They are executed on white, rectangular sheets in vertical orientation. The portraits are uniform in size, nearly filling the entire surface. The drawings rely on line alone, without shading.
The **first sketch** presents the man in left profile, with short, wavy hair receding at the temples. His forehead is furrowed, brows thin and gently arched. The eyes are open, without indicated irises. The nose is straight and medium in size, with wrinkles around it. The lips are closed, the chin softly rounded. The ear is visible. The expression appears neutral.
The **second sketch** is reduced to the left contour of the face, from hair falling onto the forehead down to the chin. The forehead and nose are pronounced, the latter marked with strong creases. The lips are slightly open, revealing the front teeth. A line from nose to mouth emphasizes the nasolabial fold.
The **third sketch** shows again the left profile, with short wavy hair and a receding hairline. The forehead and nose are deeply lined, the nose slightly hooked. Thin brows follow a soft curve. The eyes are wide open, the mouth parted to reveal the front teeth. A vertical crease runs between nose and upper lip. The chin is rounded; the ear is visible.
The **fourth sketch** depicts the man’s head slightly tilted downward. His short, wavy hair shows light recession at the temples. The brows are furrowed, the eyes large and turned upward. The nose is long and straight, the lips closed. The ear is visible. The features are softer and more delicate than in the other studies.
The **fifth sketch** presents the man frontally, from hairline to nose. His short, wavy hair recedes slightly at the sides. The forehead is broad and high; the face slender. Deeply furrowed brows overshadow open eyes, directed straight ahead. The nose is long and narrow. Both ears are visible. The expression is tense, suggesting anger or strain.
These studies reveal Boznańska’s attention to the nuances of expression and form, her ability to capture shifts in mood with only the most economical use of line.
Audio description prepared by Emilia Szymańska
Consultation: Adrian Wyka
Substantive Consultation: Urszula Kozakowska - Zaucha