A wonderfully characterful vintage folk art portrait depicting an elderly bearded gentleman seated on a wooden chair, wearing a tall bowler-type hat, dark coat and pale trousers. A mantel clock and strongly simplified interior details appear behind him, giving the scene a distinctive narrative quality.

Painted in oil on board with bold outlines, flattened perspective and an unusual muted palette of turquoise, ochre, brown and deep blue. The sitter’s intense expression and exaggerated white beard give the work a striking, slightly surreal presence.

The painting is signed with the initials “N R” at the lower left. The artist has not been identified. It appears to date from the early to mid-20th century.

There is general surface wear, scratching, age-related marking and some small losses around the edges and corners. It is unframed and has plenty of authentic decorative character.

Measures approximately 70 × 42 cm / 27.6 × 16.5 inches.