Who painted Half-Figure of an Old Woman with a Cap?

Half-Figure of an Old Woman with a Cap was painted by Hans Baldung Grien in 1535.

Where can I see Half-Figure of an Old Woman with a Cap?

Half-Figure of an Old Woman with a Cap is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Half-Figure of an Old Woman with a Cap?

Half-Figure of an Old Woman with a Cap is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

Half-Figure of an Old Woman with a Cap

Hans Baldung Grien , 1535

Half-Figure of an Old Woman with a Cap is a charcoal drawing by the Renaissance artist Hans Baldung Grien. It dates from 1535 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created around 1535, this drawing presents a half‑length portrait of an elderly woman seen in profile.

About this work

Overview

Created around 1535, this drawing presents a half‑length portrait of an elderly woman seen in profile. Executed in charcoal on laid paper, the image is later overlaid with a thin green wash that subtly separates the figure from the background. The work exemplifies the range of media explored by Hans Baldung Grien, a prominent German artist of the early sixteenth century.

Subject & Meaning

The sitter is an older woman wearing a white cap and a loosely draped, light‑colored dress. Her face bears fine lines, and her hands rest calmly in her lap, conveying a quiet, contemplative presence. The simplicity of the composition focuses attention on age and individuality, reflecting a common Renaissance interest in realistic, unidealized portraiture.

Technique & Style

Charcoal marks are employed with soft, sketchy strokes, building volume through varied pressure and shading, particularly around the eyes and mouth. The later addition of a green wash, an uncommon alteration for a charcoal drawing, creates a muted backdrop that enhances the figure’s tonal contrast. The handling of line and shade aligns with Baldung’s expressive detail and imaginative approach.

History & Provenance

The drawing is attributed to Hans Baldung Grien, a leading pupil of Albrecht Dürer who worked in painting, printmaking, and decorative arts. The green wash was applied by a subsequent hand, indicating later modification or conservation. The piece is catalogued as a drawing, reflecting Baldung’s versatile practice within the German Renaissance and early Mannerist periods.

Artist & collection

Artist

Hans Baldung Grien

Hans Baldung (1484 or 1485 – September 1545), called Hans Baldung Grien, (being an early nickname, because of his predilection for the colour green), was a painter, printer, engraver, draftsman, and stained glass…