“Head of a Woman,” created in 1883 by Vincent van Gogh, is an artwork housed in the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, Netherlands. This piece, rendered in crayon, pencil, and watercolor on paper, belongs to the Realism art movement and falls under the portrait genre. The artwork was crafted in The Hague, Netherlands.
The artwork depicts the profile of a woman, her face illuminated against a dark background, emphasizing her thoughtful expression. Van Gogh’s use of crayon, pencil, and watercolor creates a textured effect, enhancing the depth and sincerity of the woman’s features. Her head is covered by a hood, framing her face and drawing attention to the stark contrast between light and shadow. The simplicity of the medium and the somber palette reflect the Realist focus on depicting ordinary, everyday subjects with a sense of dignity and introspection. The woman’s gaze appears contemplative, capturing a moment of silent reflection, which is characteristic of Van Gogh’s early portrait work.
