Head of a Youth and a Man with a Moustache

Art Historical Context

Tito Lessi's *Head of a Youth and Man with a Moust* (c. 1895/1896) is a captivating preparatory drawing that showcases the artist's keen eye for human character. Created on a modest sheet measuring 35 × 25.2 cm, this graphite and watercolor work juxtaposes the fresh-faced innocence of a youth with the more mature, distinguished features of a mustachioed man. Late 19th-century Europeansmen like Lessi often produced such studies to refine portraits or compositions, blending meticulous line work with soft washes for depth and vitality. The mixed-media technique—graphite for sharp contours and wa...