The artwork titled “Head of a Woman” was created by Vincent van Gogh in 1882 in The Hague, Netherlands. Rendered with ink on paper, this piece belongs to the Realism art movement and falls under the genre of portraiture. It is currently housed at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
The artwork depicts a middle-aged woman with a deeply contemplative expression. Her head is adorned with a simple headscarf, which is intricately detailed along with her melancholic facial features. The use of bold ink strokes and intricate cross-hatching technique brings out the depth and texture, emphasizing the raw emotion and character of the subject. The dark background contrasts sharply with the illuminated features of the woman’s face, directing the viewer’s attention to her somber yet dignified countenance. This work captures van Gogh’s early mastery in portraiture, providing a compelling glimpse into the lifelike representation and emotional depth characteristic of the Realism movement.
