Head of a Fisherman

From the Cleveland Museum of Art record

Through portraits of rural workers including fishermen and farmers, Max Pechstein explored his interest in people whom he perceived as rugged and natural. Here, he capitalized on the rough-hewn character of the wood to enhance the fisherman’s strong features, using a gouge and cutting along the grain without any preparatory drawing. The result is a frank and immediate presentation of a wizened face that reveals years of arduous work at sea.