This charcoal drawing captures a poignant moment of everyday life, rendered in a starkly realistic style. The artwork, measuring 20.32 x 15.24 cm (H/W), features a man's face partially obscured by shadows, emerging from a deep black background. He is lighting a cigarette, the flame of the lighter illuminating the lower half of his face and casting a dramatic glow on his beard and the hand holding the lighter. The man's expression is difficult to discern, lost somewhere between contemplation and weariness. The artist's skillful use of charcoal creates a textured effect, adding depth and a sense of rawness to the man’s features, especially the wrinkles around his eyes and the coarse hairs of his beard. The high contrast between light and dark intensifies the focus on the act of lighting the cigarette, suggesting a moment of quiet reflection or perhaps a habitual action in a solitary setting. The artwork effectively uses chiaroscuro, a technique that emphasizes the dramatic interplay of light and shadow. This piece is a powerful example of charcoal portraiture, capturing a fleeting moment of human experience with evocative realism.
