Bust of woman with wide-open mouth and long curly hair falling over her shoulders, wearing low-cut dress with ribbon round her waist, in profile to left
Original title: Bust of woman with wide-open mouth and long curly hair falling over her shoulders, wearing low-cut dress with ribbon round her waist, in profile to left
kurzbeschreibung
Wenceslaus Hollar etched this profile of a woman with a wide-open mouth and long curls in 1665. The print reproduces an invention by Leonardo da Vinci and exists in a single state.
Description
The woman's head is turned to the left, her mouth gaping wide, giving the face an agitated expression. Wavy hair falls over her shoulders; her dress is cut low, with a band around the waist. Fine hatching shapes contours and shadows, while strokes in the background suggest atmospheric depth. Along the top edge runs the inscription 'Leonardo da Vinci inv: Wcollar fec: 1665'.
Context
The inscription names Leonardo da Vinci as the inventor of the design, which Hollar transferred to his etching. By 1665 the artist was already valued for his accurate reproductions of famous artworks. Leonardo's expressive study of a woman thus gained new circulation through Hollar's etched line.
Impact
The open mouth and restless curls lend the bust something immediate and present. The calm, precise linework holds this expression in a form that is both intimate and exact.
Technique
The sheet is executed as an etching in the only state, with fine lines and hatching. The plate mark closely follows the image, giving the layout a compressed feel.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)