Mino Maccari, Portrait of Boy, Mixed Media Drawing, 1927

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Charcoal, watercolor and pencil with wash on paper. An accomplished and sensitive study by Mino Maccari, presenting multiple views and … Read more Charcoal, watercolor and pencil with wash on paper. An accomplished and sensitive study by Mino Maccari, presenting multiple views and details of a young boy’s head, rendered with a refined combination of charcoal, pencil, and subtle tonal washes. The principal profile, executed with confident chiaroscuro modelling, dominates the upper portion of the sheet, while two smaller auxiliary studies—an eye and a reduced head in three-quarter view—occupy the lower area, reinforcing the drawing’s exploratory nature. Maccari’s draughtsmanship here reveals a quieter, more introspective register of his graphic production. The facial features are observed with empathy and restraint, articulated through delicate cross-hatching and softened transitions of light and shadow. The use of wash enhances volume and atmosphere, lending the portrait a sculptural presence while preserving the immediacy of a working study. The sheet exemplifies Maccari’s ability to balance caricatural instinct with psychological depth, demonstrating his mastery of portraiture as a means of investigation rather than mere likeness. Such drawings relate closely to his broader engagement with human character, central to his activity as a graphic artist, satirist, and illustrator throughout the twentieth century. Signed Maccari lower left. This piece is attributed to the mentioned designer/maker. It has no attribution mark and no
official proof of authenticity,
however it is well documented in design history. I take full responsibility for any authenticity



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