An elderly bearded man identified on the reverse as a hobo or hermit from Arcade, New York is the subject of this real photo postcard, copyrighted in 1906 by R.W. Pearson of Arcade, New York and printed on AZO stock. The subject faces the camera in a three-quarter pose with a relaxed, faintly amused expression, his long white beard extending well down his chest. The image is a studio portrait despite the subject's rough appearance, set against a plain graduated background.

He wears a soft, crumpled cap pushed forward on his head, a worn corduroy or heavy wool jacket, and a frayed, loosely knotted scarf or neckcloth that hangs open at the chest. His hands rest forward in his lap, and his clothing throughout shows heavy wear consistent with the hobo or hermit characterization noted on the reverse.

Arcade is a small village in Wyoming County, New York, and R.W. Pearson operated there as a local photographer and postcard publisher in the early twentieth century. This card appears to have circulated socially, as handwritten messages reading "Do you recognize him?" and partial text referencing the 14th appear written directly on the image face.

The reverse is an undivided AZO postcard back with a penciled notation reading "Hobo/Hermit Arcade NY" at the top and a catalog notation along the right edge reading "4/24/13 L08AE1 Eb."