Studieblad met een vrouwenhoofd met hoofddoek 1756 - 1817

Louis Bernard Coclers created this study of a woman's head with a headscarf, using brown chalk, sometime in the 18th century. The drawing focuses on the head and shoulders of the subject, with the headscarf dominating the composition. Coclers uses a hatching technique, with closely spaced parallel lines to define form and create shading, lending a sense of depth and volume to the figure. The lines also direct the eye, emphasizing the contours of the face and the folds of the headscarf. The texture of the chalk on paper adds a tactile quality to the work, a softness that contrasts with the starkness of the lines. The use of a single color and a limited tonal range focuses attention on form and structure. The drawing has a timeless quality, transcending the specifics of time or place. It invites us to consider the essential elements of representation and the enduring power of line and form.