Hoofd van een oude vrouw met capuchon 1876

Piet Verhaert etched this "Head of an Old Woman with Hood" using a dry needle. The hood itself is a powerful motif. Across cultures, covering the head can signify mourning, humility, or a desire for anonymity. Think of the veiled figures in Renaissance paintings of the Lamentation, or even further back, to ancient Roman rituals where priests covered their heads to connect with the divine. We see a similar impulse here: the woman's face, framed by the dark hood, invites us to contemplate themes of mortality and the hidden aspects of life. The gesture of the hood drawn forward suggests a retreat from the world, and a kind of psychological withdrawal, protecting oneself from external gazes or harsh realities. This deeply personal moment transcends time, echoing in countless images where individuals seek solace or protection through concealment. It's a primal gesture of self-preservation.