Head of a Faun

The head of this faun (in mythology, part man and part goat) seems more animal than human, with his protruding ears, small horns, and abundant fur. His wild appearance contrasts with his expression of plaintive melancholy, the eyelids closed and the head resting obliquely on a rock. As exemplified by the patina applied on this plaster, Carriès experimented extensively with the effect of surfaces on his sculptures; he also produced this piece in bronze and enameled ceramic in various colors.