A bearded man with white hair appears in profile, his head turned to the right so that only the side of his face is visible. His thick, wavy hair is painted in sweeping strokes of pale yellow and white, catching the light and standing out against the dark background. The beard, rendered with similar energetic brushwork, flows down from his chin and cheeks, merging into the shadowy lower part of the canvas.

The man’s skin is warm and ruddy, with subtle gradations of color that suggest age and character, especially in the creases around his eyes and on his forehead. A soft, golden light falls from the left, illuminating the upper part of his head and the tips of his hair, while the rest of the figure recedes into deep shadow. The background is an indistinct, nearly black space, which serves to isolate the figure and focus attention on his features.

No other objects or figures are present, and the man’s clothing is suggested only by a dark mass at the bottom of the image, painted with loose, broad strokes. The composition is tightly cropped, with the head filling most of the canvas, creating a sense of intimacy and immediacy. The brushwork is lively and visible, especially in the hair and beard, where individual strands are picked out with confident, curving lines.

The upper left corner of the painting shows a concentration of warm golden tones where the light strikes the hair most strongly. Fine cracks in the paint surface are visible, especially in the illuminated areas of the forehead and hair. The outline of the man's shoulder and back is softly blended into the darkness, with no sharp separation from the background.

A faint, vertical streak of lighter paint runs down near the left edge, interrupting the otherwise smooth backdrop.