A Lady Wearing a Dormeuse Cap c. 1770

Nicolaas Muys rendered "A Lady Wearing a Dormeuse Cap" using graphite and red chalk. The cross-hatching strokes create tonal variation that gives depth to the figure against a softly textured background. The composition is dominated by a light-skinned woman shown from the chest up, angled slightly to her right, drawing the viewer's eye across the image. Her gaze, however, is directed at the viewer which creates an intimate connection. The subject's cap, adorned with lace, provides a textured contrast to the smooth skin of her face. Muys uses line to define form and texture, creating tonal variation. The use of red chalk adds warmth to her face, while graphite defines the drapery of her dress and the background. The drawing's structure serves a function by animating the subject, creating a sense of immediacy and presence. This sense of dynamic animation, achieved through the interplay of line and color, embodies the artwork's capacity to extend beyond mere representation, engaging in a dialogue of form and expression.