Bust of a Man

Anquetin greatly valued works by the Old Masters, particularly their expressive representation of strong manly forms. This impelled him to concentrate his attention on anatomical studies and on the composition of a theoretical treatise The Catechism of the Form, or the Lesser Dictionary. The search of initial anatomic forms common for both a man and an animal led him to the conclusion that his own strong torso had much in common with that of a lion. He produced numerous sketches for his treatise, which show both a lion and his self-portrait. This drawing also may serve as an illustration for the treatise.