Final answer:
Vincent van Gogh's technical skills improved over time, with later works showing more sophisticated use of color, light, and brushwork, as well as greater emotional expression, when compared to his earlier drawings.
Step-by-step explanation:
When comparing Vincent van Gogh's early drawing 'Carpenter' to his later work 'Old Man with His Head in His Hands', one can observe van Gogh's improved technical skills in the later work. Initially, van Gogh's art was characterized by thick brushstrokes and darkly pigmented earth tones. After moving to Paris and being influenced by the Impressionists and Post-Impressionists, van Gogh began to use lighter colors and a broader, broken style of brushstrokes, as seen in his self-portraits, where he used these to create bold contrasts and explore color theory. This technical refinement is visible in the improved handling of light and shadow, the expressive quality of the lines, and the more confident application of brushwork in 'Old Man with His Head in His Hands'.
While van Gogh's earlier drawings may have shown more a straightforward approach, his later works, such as the emotionally charged 'Old Man with His Head in His Hands,' demonstrate a complexity and attention to detail that suggest a mastery of the medium. His use of color and texture became more sophisticated, and his compositions showed a greater understanding of emotional expression through art.