Female Heads 1535 - 1540

Parmigianino made this drawing, "Female Heads," with pen and brown ink in Italy sometime in the early 16th century. Parmigianino was a key figure in the development of Mannerism, a style that prized elegance and artifice over the naturalism that defined the earlier Renaissance. Here, we see a group of women rendered with a delicate, almost ethereal quality. The faces are idealized, with elongated features and gentle expressions. They are turned in different directions, creating a sense of movement and visual complexity. The drawing is a study, and its visual codes reference the artist's broader cultural context. For example, it illustrates the Renaissance interest in the ideal human form, which was further informed by classical antiquity. To understand this drawing better, we can consider the historical and institutional context in which it was made. This includes the artist's education, the patronage system, and the artistic conventions of the time. By researching these kinds of resources, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the artwork and its place in history.