Caricatured Head of a Spaniard

Art Historical Context

This charming pen-and-brown-ink drawing, created in 1880, captures a caricatured head of a Spaniard with lively, exaggerated features. Attributed to Samuel Putnam Avery Sr. and Jules Worms, the small work—measuring just under seven by four and a half inches—showcases the expressive potential of line work in capturing personality and humor. Worms, a French genre painter with a fondness for Spanish subjects, likely influenced the choice of motif, while Avery, an influential American art dealer and collector, may have contributed to its creation or preservation. Caricature flourished in the late nineteenth century as both entertainment and social commentary, allowing artists to distill character through bold distortions rather than strict realism. Here, the fluid pen strokes emphasize distinctive facial traits with wit and economy, turning a quick sketch into an engaging study of type and expression. Such drawings often served as preparatory exercises or personal mementos among artists and collectors. Now part of the Metropolitan Museum’s Department of Drawings and Prints, the piece entered the collection as a gift from Avery’s descendants in 1965, underscoring its place within a family deeply connected to the art world of the Gilded Age.