JEFFRE-1 Ted Seth Jacobs

The drawing presents a bust portrait of a young man, rendered in charcoal and with subtle washes of pink pigment on paper. The subject is positioned frontally, his gaze directed slightly downward and to the left, conveying a sense of introspection or perhaps melancholy. His hair, depicted with loose, energetic strokes, frames his face and falls forward, partially obscuring his forehead.
The artist’s handling of charcoal emphasizes the play of light and shadow across the subjects features. Strong lines define the contours of his jawline and cheekbones, while softer shading suggests volume and depth. The nose is prominent, and the lips are rendered with a slight downturn, contributing to the overall somber mood.
The background is minimally treated; it appears as a warm, muted pink that allows the subjects figure to stand out. This limited color palette focuses attention entirely on the individual’s face and expression. The artist has included what seems to be a signature in the lower left corner, rendered in a similar charcoal style. A circular mark is visible near the bottom right of the drawing.
Beyond the straightforward depiction of a young man, the work suggests an exploration of vulnerability and inner life. The downward gaze and subtle downturn of the mouth hint at a complex emotional state. The loose, almost unfinished quality of the charcoal strokes lends a sense of immediacy and intimacy to the portrait, as if capturing a fleeting moment or impression. It is not merely a likeness but rather an attempt to convey something about the subject’s character or psychological condition.