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...