The image shows a sketch of a person drawn from the shoulders up in profile view, with only the upper part of the body visible. The person's head is turned to the right, providing a clear side view of their facial features, which include a contemplative expression. They are wearing a tall, cylindrical top hat and a high-collared jacket or coat. The background is a plain, lightly speckled sheet of paper with visible aging and slight stains.
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Self-Portrait

John Vanderlyn (American, 1775 - 1852)

Medium
charcoal and (graphite?) on tan wove paper
Classification
Drawing
Dimensions
sheet: 30.5 × 45.7 cm (12 × 18 in.)
Culture
American
Museum
National Gallery of Art, CG-W
Credit line
John Davis Hatch Collection
Rights
Public domain (NGA Open Access, CC0), as the museum states it.
Who can see it
Tweens profiles and older: its subjects are known and suit older children. How works are placed

View at the National Gallery of Art