Hand at the Temple

About the work

A fine line outlines a long figure with one hand raised towards the head. Features, hair, collar and fingers are indicated with a few touches; to the right, the drawing expands into a loose sequence of curls and small loops. Much of the field remains pale. Even a slight bend in the contour therefore changes the position of a shoulder, the tilt of the head or the direction of the gaze.

The raised palm creates a second upright beside the face, while horizontal flourishes below steady the elongated silhouette. Closed shapes alternate with unfinished lines, retaining the immediacy of a quick observation. The transition on the right is particularly engaging: recognisable body parts give way to an almost written movement, connecting the portrait motif to a freely developing linear pattern.