Studie van een vrouwenhoofd, naar rechts 1700 - 1759

This is Jan Wandelaar's chalk drawing of a woman's head, made sometime in the first half of the 18th century. The woman is seen in profile, her face in repose. The arrangement of her hair in tight curls is symbolic, reflective of the period's emphasis on artifice and control over nature. These tight curls echo the ringlets seen in classical sculpture. Consider the “contrapposto” stance, adopted from classical sculpture, where figures shift their weight to one leg, creating a dynamic curve. Here, the woman’s hairstyle reflects a similar rhythm and balance to her composure, a dance of tension and release. The woman's calm is reflected in the symmetry of her face, an outward expression of her inner state. This carefully arranged coiffure is a manifestation of cultural memory, a bridge connecting the Dutch Republic to the aesthetic ideals of antiquity, a resurgence that continues to resonate today.