Completed in 1979, this mixed media work on paper finds Hans Burkhardt at a mature and searching moment in his practice, distilling the human figure into its most essential gestures rather than its anatomical facts. The body here is present but not defined, surfacing through swaths of color, layered texture, and directional movement that resist easy resolution. There is a sustained tension between presence and absence, as though the figure is simultaneously emerging from and dissolving back into its ground. This quality is not accidental but deeply intentional, reflecting Burkhardt's lifelong conviction that emotional truth outweighs descriptive accuracy. Throughout his late career, Burkhardt continued to press the figure toward abstraction, treating identity as something felt rather than depicted. That commitment is fully evident here, where instinct and painterly urgency govern each mark. The modest scale of the work, 57.2 by 38.1 centimeters, concentrates rather than diminishes its impact, giving the composition an intimacy that rewards close attention. Signed in pencil at the lower right by the artist himself and presented in its original frame, the piece carries the kind of direct, personal authority that distinguishes a genuine study from a finished performance. Burkhardt occupies a singular position within postwar American art, having trained under Hans Hofmann and later become one of the most ethically engaged painters of his generation working in Los Angeles. Works from this period, when he remained fully committed to invention well into his seventies, are relatively scarce and consistently coveted by serious collectors. This example, offered through Heather James Fine Art, represents an ideal entry point into the artist's late figurative language.