Kvindestudie 1658 - 1661

This drawing, Kvindestudie, was made by Salvator Rosa sometime in the 17th century. Rosa was an Italian Baroque painter, known for his unconventional style and rebellious spirit. This study of a woman, likely made with pen and ink, captures a figure draped in fabric, her form emerging from a network of lines. In Rosa's time, the Italian art world was dominated by academies that emphasized idealized forms and classical subjects. Rosa challenged these norms, seeking to capture the raw and untamed aspects of life and nature. His art often reflected a fascination with the lives of soldiers and bandits. To fully appreciate Rosa's place in the history of art, we can look at the archives of the art academies of the period, to understand the rules that he was breaking.