Woman Holding a Jug and a Study of her Head Seen from the Left 1646 - 1664

Cornelis Bega created this drawing, ‘Woman Holding a Jug and a Study of her Head Seen from the Left,’ using black and white chalk on blue paper. The composition is striking for its dual portrayal, where a detailed figure of a woman holding a jug is juxtaposed with a lighter sketch of her head in profile. Bega’s use of line is particularly notable. Notice how the precise lines define the contours of the woman's face and the jug, creating a sense of volume. In contrast, the study of her head employs softer, more diffuse lines, suggesting a fleeting, less defined presence. This contrast in linework is not merely aesthetic; it serves to distinguish between the present and the potential. The detailed figure embodies a moment captured, while the sketched head represents a transient thought. Bega masterfully uses line to engage with notions of temporality and perception, inviting viewers to reflect on the fluid nature of identity.