Studie van het hoofd van een vrouw

Studie van het hoofd van een vrouw is a compelling print created by Rembrandt van Rijn around 1635. Executed meticulously on paper, this work exemplifies the Dutch master’s rigorous approach to preparatory drawing and figure studies during the height of the Golden Age of Dutch art. The subject focuses intensely on the woman’s head, utilizing light and shadow to define her structure and expression. Such studies were often preliminary sketches for larger narrative compositions or independent character explorations, which Rijn sometimes referred to by the Dutch term tronie.

The classification as a print suggests either an etching or drypoint technique was employed, methods Rijn used throughout his career to capture expression quickly and disseminate his work. This particular study reflects his stylistic move toward greater psychological depth in portraiture. Rijn frequently utilized anonymous or local sitters to perfect his understanding of realistic human depiction, focusing on how emotion and age manifest on the face. The delicate handling of line and the strong contrasts demonstrate the artist’s mastery of manipulating light, ensuring that the viewer’s attention is drawn directly to the implied internal life of the subject.

As one of the many figure studies created by Rijn in the mid-1630s, this work is a crucial document for understanding the evolution of his mature style. Today, the original resides within the esteemed collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it is preserved as an integral part of the museum’s extensive holding of Old Master prints. The historical significance of this piece, coupled with its age, means that this representation of the woman's head is often referenced in scholarly texts. Like many of Rembrandt’s influential works from this period, high-resolution digital versions are widely available, contributing to the growing corpus of art considered part of the public domain.