In this self-portrait, Paul Cadmus continuously draws the viewer’s gaze to his face, creating a circular composition through the bent arm, curving coat lapel, and raised pencil. The emphasis on the pencil draws the eye to the crosshatched marks that combine to create the image. Though he often depicted his gay contemporaries and was unafraid of including gay themes in his work, Cadmus rejected the notion that his work indexed his sexuality. He believed his artistic self remained separate from his personal identity.