A man in a dark hat and detailed clothing holds a folded paper against a dark background
An oil painting shows a man seated, facing forward, positioned slightly to the viewer's right of center. He wears a wide-brimmed dark hat that casts a shadow over his forehead and eyes. His long, reddish-brown curly hair falls over his shoulders. His pale face features a prominent nose, thin lips, and dark eyes that look directly out. He is dressed in a dark, possibly velvet, coat with a wide, white lace collar extending over his shoulders. A decorative white tassel or pendant hangs from his neck onto his chest. His sleeves feature white cuffs. His right hand, positioned on his lap, holds a folded piece of light-colored paper or parchment with faint, illegible markings. The background is a dark, warm brown, with a slightly lighter area visible on the left side. Light illuminates the man's face and hands, creating strong contrasts with his dark attire and the background.