Young Man in Profile
1878-1885
Look closely at the messy hair and the heavy, scribbled shading on the jacket—this isn't a finished portrait, but a quick, energetic study by Norwegian realist Gustav Wentzel. The young man is captured in profile, gaze cast downward, perhaps reading or just daydreaming. The handwritten note 'Sperle' at the top suggests this was sketched in the Norwegian village where Wentzel found so much inspiration for his rural scenes. It’s a charming, raw glimpse into the artist's process, showing how he observed real people before creating his famous paintings.