Head of a Fisherman

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.