Bust of woman with wide open mouth and up-turned nose, wearing large flat turban with cloth hanging down behind in profile to right
Original title: Bust of woman with wide open mouth and up-turned nose, wearing large flat turban with cloth hanging down behind in profile to right
kurzbeschreibung
In 1665 Wenceslaus Hollar etched a woman's profile facing right: her mouth is wide open, her nose turned up, and a large flat turban with hanging cloth covers her head. This single print measures 6.7 × 4.9 cm.
Description
Seen in profile to the right, the woman has her mouth wide open and her nose clearly turned up, an expression that unsettles or frightens. A large, flat turban sits on her head, held by a band of cloth whose end falls down behind. Her upper garment stays plain, and a clasp fastens it at the neck. Fine lines and crisp contours define the etching.
Context
The etching of 1665 carries the inscriptions 'Leonardo da Vinci inv.' and 'Woolfsohn fecit 1665'. Hollar, a Bohemian engraver, often worked from other artists' designs; the attribution to Leonardo is considered uncertain today. The small format suggests a study or a collector's piece.
Impact
The extreme facial expression and the unusual headwear provoke irritation and fascination at once. The face holds the viewer's gaze, and the delicate etching gives the sheet a detailed, almost sketch-like quality.
Technique
An etching in a single state: the plate measures 6.7 × 4.9 cm, the sheet 6.8 × 5.2 cm. The process allows fine lines and a precise rendering of facial features and fabric textures.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)