Study of a female head for the figure of Queen Jadwiga in the painting ‘Queen Jadwiga’s Oath’ 1867

Józef Simmler sketched this study of a female head using graphite on paper, as preparation for his painting ‘Queen Jadwiga’s Oath’. The initial impression is of delicacy and restraint, achieved through the artist’s careful use of line and subtle shading. Simmler’s technique here is particularly interesting. Notice how the lines are not definitive but rather suggestive, almost tentative. This gives the drawing a sense of movement and life, as if the artist is still in the process of discovering the form. The way the head is tilted upwards invites the viewer to consider not just the physical form but also the direction of her gaze and thought. The unfinished quality destabilizes the boundary between the preparatory sketch and the finished work. It invites us to see the beauty in the process of creation itself. Simmler’s drawing offers a glimpse into his artistic method, and emphasizes the visual qualities of line and form. This challenges our assumptions about what constitutes a finished work of art.