Hoofd van een huilende vrouw 1683 - 1733

Bernard Picart created this red chalk drawing, "Head of a Crying Woman," in the early 18th century. The composition centres on the woman’s face, angled away, inviting us to witness her private moment of sorrow. Picart uses the red chalk to create a delicate network of lines, giving shape to the woman's features and conveying a sense of depth and emotion. Note how the hatching and cross-hatching define the contours of her face and the texture of her hair, styled with a plaited band. The tears, rendered with subtle precision, evoke a profound emotional response, drawing viewers into her world of grief. The formal construction of the drawing invites a semiotic reading. Tears, culturally coded as signs of sadness, here become potent symbols. Through his masterful use of line and form, Picart captures a moment of raw human emotion, inviting us to contemplate the complexities of feeling and representation. The artwork thus destabilizes the stoic values often upheld in art, challenging viewers to engage with more vulnerable aspects of the human condition.