Young Woman in Profile c. 1613

Peter Paul Rubens, a leading figure in the Flemish Baroque style, created this masterful drawing, *Young Woman in Profile* around 1613. Rubens was renowned for his dynamic compositions, rich colors, and idealized figures, all of which are present in his preparatory drawings, as demonstrated in this work. Executed with meticulous detail in black chalk, the drawing captures the subtle contours of the young woman’s face and flowing hair, revealing Rubens’s ability to render form and expression with astonishing precision. This intimate study likely served as a preliminary for a larger painting.