Self-Portrait in Caricature

A young man with a large nose, prominent chin, and tousled hair stares out at us with a wry expression in this early self-portrait. Rendered in just a few quick, confident lines of black ink, the drawing captures Thomas Hart Benton as a teenager, working as a cartoonist for a newspaper in Joplin, Missouri. He depicts himself with a slightly exaggerated, almost caricatured appearance, hinting at his early interest in capturing personality and form. The sketch, made when he was about 19, shows the beginnings of his lifelong fascination with the human figure and his ability to convey character through simple yet expressive means. This work offers a rare glimpse into the formative years of an artist who would later become a leading figure in American art.