Man in Bowler and Oversized Coat, View From Behind, Elusive (Pre-Magritte) Antique RPPC vintage papier mache head with eye of the scope

with eye of the scope held by our heroine serving as the vanishing point

but with plenty of wear and aging to the paint

Let the warbling lute complain:

with a pencil drawn outline around the perimeter

Man in Bowler and Oversized Coat, View From Behind, Elusive (Pre-Magritte) Antique RPPC vintage papier mache head with eye of the scopeI'm rather obsessed with this one, striking and evocative and rather iconic feeling, but which refuses to be pinned down. The back of the postcard dates it to the 1910s or early 20s, I believe (I took some time comparing this exact font and format to other real photo postcards and that seems to be the period of use), meaning it pre dates Magritte's earliest man in bowler painting by at least a few years, though those are what it immediately calls to