Male Figure with White Turban

The portrait of this old man with a white turban is the only pastel drawing in the Trindade collection. As in many of his portrait of common men, Trindade avoids any voyeurism or wonder with the exotic. Instead, he bestows a sense of dignity and purpose to his sitter.
Making use of his recurrent earthy pallete, punctuated with vivid colours to create contrast and texture, Trindade describes with detail the man’s multi-layered attire. His winter wear also suggests that the white turban is worn for a practical purpose, to provide warmth, rather than with any religious motive. The sitter’s tanned skin could indicate his grassroot condition, supported by his weary appearance.