A painting of a man with a receding hairline and a long white beard, facing left
A vertical painting depicts a bust-length image of a man against a dark, indistinct background. The man is positioned slightly to the right of center, facing left in profile, with his head turned slightly towards the viewer. His skin appears ruddy, with visible brushstrokes defining the contours of his face. He has a receding hairline with white or light gray hair visible on the sides of his head. A long, full, white or light gray beard extends from his chin and cheeks, reaching down to his chest. His eyes are light-colored and gaze towards the left. He wears dark clothing, possibly a coat or robe, with a hint of a white collar or shirt visible at his neck. Strong light from the upper left illuminates his face and beard, creating highlights and casting the right side of his face and the background into deeper shadow. The background is predominantly dark brown and black, with subtle warmer brown tones on the right and cooler dark tones on the left. In the lower left corner, light-colored script reads "M. J. Schladen 1902".