Hoofden van een oude en van een jonge vrouw 1620 - 1664

This drawing, "Heads of an Old Woman and a Young Woman," was made by Stefano della Bella. Its two heads are vertically stacked, each defined by distinct linework and orientation. The upper figure, an old woman in profile, contrasts with the lower, a young woman facing down and towards the left. Consider how the formal arrangement here invites a comparative reading. Della Bella uses line to delineate not just age but also emotional states. The old woman's face, etched with wrinkles, is rigidly composed; it is a symbol of experience. Conversely, the young woman’s head, rendered with softer, curvilinear strokes, suggests a sense of melancholy or introspection. By positioning these figures, Della Bella engages with the baroque interest in contrasting themes, where each head becomes a signifier in a larger, philosophical discourse about time, beauty, and the human condition. This tiny drawing speaks to the formal qualities of line and form, inviting ongoing interpretation and re-interpretation.