The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 22, 2026

A vertically oriented crayon and watercolor drawing on off-white paper depicts a standing man with light skin tone in a vibrant blue robe and black pointed hat. His face features white makeup, a long mustache, and a pointed beard. Above him, two sketches depict a woman's head: one a faint frontal view and the other a profile facing right with dark hair. He wears dark leggings beneath his robe.

Chinese Actor and Two Sketches of a Woman's Head

1912

Emil Orlik

(Czech, 1870–1932)
Germany, 20th century
black crayon and watercolor, with gouache (main figure); black crayon (partially erased, left head); black crayon (right head)
Sheet: 26.7 x 18.7 cm (10 1/2 x 7 3/8 in.)
Dudley P. Allen Fund 1924.550
Location: Not on view
  • Emil Orlik
  • Watercolors and Drawings form the Museum Collection. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (February 7-28, 1939).
    Drawings from the Museum Collection. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (February 10-April 28, 1937).
  • {{cite web|title=Chinese Actor and Two Sketches of a Woman's Head|url=false|author=Emil Orlik|year=1912|access-date=22 April 2026|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1924.550