Artwork

Bust of a Woman in an Extravagant Costume

Bust of a Woman in an Extravagant Costume, by French 16th Century, ink, 1560
Bust of a Woman in an Extravagant Costume, by French 16th Century, ink, 1560

Bust of a Woman in an Extravagant Costume is an ink print by the Renaissance artist French 16th Century. It dates from 1560 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

The Bust of a Woman in an Extravagant Costume is a print made using the engraving technique on laid paper. It depicts a woman's head and shoulders in black and white.

Subject & Meaning

The woman wears an elaborate headdress adorned with curls, leaves, and fruits, and a stiff collar decorated with a small bird. Her attire is intricately detailed, suggesting a focus on texture and ornamentation.

Technique & Style

The engraving employs cross-hatching, a method of creating shading and texture through crisscrossing parallel lines, to achieve a three-dimensional effect on a flat metal surface.

Artist & collection

Portrait of French 16th Century

Artist

French 16th Century

A French artist from the 1500s made metal sculptures and prints that feel like Renaissance snapshots.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.