La Stregaccia. Romersk kvindeportræt 1850 - 1899

Wenzel Tornøe created this striking image entitled ‘La Stregaccia. Romersk kvindeportræt’ using etching techniques. The portrait, dominated by a severe frontal gaze, captures the viewer's attention immediately. The artist masterfully contrasts light and shadow to accentuate the woman's features, her face framed by a striped head covering. Tornøe’s emphasis on the woman’s direct gaze implicates the viewer, creating a dynamic between observer and observed. The use of chiaroscuro intensifies her aged appearance, and raises questions about representation and social status. The title ‘La Stregaccia,’ which translates to 'The Witch,' adds another layer, challenging conventional portraits of beauty and power. The formal structure of the etching, with its detailed lines and stark contrasts, serves to destabilize traditional notions of portraiture, inviting ongoing interpretation. The very act of portraying this particular subject subverts classical ideals.