Artwork
Head of a Young Woman Wearing a Cap
Head of a Young Woman Wearing a Cap is a chalk print by the Baroque artist Louis-Marin Bonnet. It dates from 1764 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Louis‑Marin Bonnet’s 1764 print, titled *Head of a Young Woman Wearing a Cap*, presents a solitary portrait in a compact format. Executed as a chalk‑manner impression using red ink, the work captures a single figure in profile, emphasizing the delicate contours of the face and the modest headwear.
Subject & Meaning
The image depicts a young woman turned sideways, her hair gathered and secured beneath a white cap tied with a small bow. The expression is restrained, suggesting a calm or contemplative demeanor rather than overt sentiment, inviting viewers to consider the modesty and poise associated with contemporary ideals of feminine virtue.
Technique & Style
Bonnet employed a rapid, overlapping line technique known as cross‑hatching, layering red chalk strokes to model light and shadow across the facial features. The looseness of the marks conveys immediacy, while the controlled density of intersecting lines creates depth, particularly in the cheek and cap, achieving a sense of three‑dimensional form within the limited medium.
History & Provenance
Created in the mid‑eighteenth century, the print belongs to a period when artists frequently produced chalk‑manner impressions for study or distribution. Though specific ownership records are scarce, the work is catalogued among Bonnet’s surviving prints, reflecting his engagement with portraiture and the pedagogical use of red‑chalk drawings in French artistic circles of the era.
Artist & collection
