“Study of a Woman’s Head,” created by Antoine Watteau circa 1710, is a chalk drawing on paper that exemplifies the Rococo art movement. Measuring 33 x 23 cm, the artwork belongs to the genre of sketches and studies and is currently housed in the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
The artwork features a delicate and detailed rendering of a woman’s head in profile. Watteau adeptly uses chalk to emphasize subtle contours and expressions, giving the study a lifelike quality. The woman’s serene and reflective expression, coupled with the soft shading and light touches, captures the graceful and gentle essence that is characteristic of Watteau’s style. The precision in the hair details and the careful blending of tones highlight Watteau’s mastery of the medium. Through minimalistic yet evocative strokes, the artist manages to convey depth and texture, turning the simple study into a profound representation of the Rococo aesthetic.
