This excellent portrait of an unknown man dates from Pinazo’s mature period. The essentially realist approach, which is fundamental to the artist, is here expressed through a remarkably vigorous, fresh and confident handling. Although undated, the canvas should be placed close to the date of Self-portrait in a Hat of 1901 (Museo del Prado), by which date Pinazo had already abandoned conventional devices and pictorial prudence in his portraits in order to create works of lively, agile and profound expressiveness. This process would not take place until much later in his works in other genres.