Head of a Woman

The drawing Head of a Woman by Jacques-Louis David French, 1748-1825, is a compelling example of the artist's rigorous draftsmanship during the ascendancy of the Neoclassical movement. Executed sometime between 1775 and 1785, this study utilizes pen and iron-gall ink on white laid paper. The medium itself emphasizes David’s preference for clarity and precise linearity over the painterly softness that characterized previous French styles.

As the preeminent artist of the Neoclassical period, David utilized drawing as the fundamental tool for developing composition and form. This work, classified strictly as a drawing, illustrates the controlled, deliberate lines necessary to establish the idealized and structurally sound proportions demanded by classical aesthetics. The artist’s meticulous handling of the ink medium achieves sharp contours, focusing attention entirely on the severe, yet graceful, architecture of the female face. The piece likely served as an academic exercise or a preparatory study for a figure in one of David’s grand historical narrative paintings.

The style reflects the intellectual shift in France toward classical sources and away from the Rococo, showcasing the artist’s commitment to historical subjects and rigorous preparation. This historically significant work, which provides vital insight into the methods of the era, resides in the esteemed collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. Its importance to the study of 18th-century French art is such that the visual record is frequently shared through public domain initiatives for scholarly research.