Head of a Woman 1760 - 1815

This sanguine drawing, "Head of a Woman," was made by Francesco Bartolozzi, a master of the engraver’s art. Consider the elaborate hairstyle, a soaring edifice of curls and fabric. It is a potent symbol of status and identity, reminiscent of the high hairstyles worn in the French court of Louis XVI. The coiffure is more than mere fashion; it's a statement of power and cultural belonging. This pursuit of elevation echoes in earlier depictions of divine figures and royalty. Think of Renaissance portraits where height, achieved through elaborate crowns or headdresses, symbolizes elevated status or divine connection. It's as if humanity, through such embellishments, seeks to reach beyond the earthly realm. The style resurfaces in later eras, each time reinvented to reflect new social values, yet always retaining that underlying ambition to visually assert dominance and cultural refinement. This impulse to create art that inspires intense emotional states is deeply embedded in our collective consciousness, resurfacing throughout art history.