Vrouw met een hoofdkapje van achter gezien 1636

This small etching, made by Wenceslaus Hollar, captures a woman in meticulous detail, focusing sharply on the intricate textures of her attire and hair. The composition is dominated by the woman's head and shoulders, turned in profile. The cap, with its rigid lines, contrasts with the soft, almost chaotic curls escaping around it. Hollar's skill lies in his manipulation of line and tone; he uses dense hatching to model the form, creating a sense of depth and materiality. The stark contrast between the white paper and the dark lines gives the image a striking clarity, almost clinical in its precision. The choice to depict the woman from behind is intriguing. It removes the possibility of direct engagement, inviting us to study her as an object of design and social status, rather than as an individual. This distancing effect prompts questions about the gaze, and how Hollar’s work constructs and presents his subject. Consider how the formal elements – the lines, textures, and the chosen viewpoint – collectively shape our understanding of the woman and her place within the artistic and social landscape of Hollar's time.