Who painted Tête de femme (Head of a Woman)?

Tête de femme (Head of a Woman) was painted by Henri-Charles Guérard in 1895.

Where can I see Tête de femme (Head of a Woman)?

Tête de femme (Head of a Woman) is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Tête de femme (Head of a Woman)?

Tête de femme (Head of a Woman) is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Tête de femme (Head of a Woman)

Henri-Charles Guérard , 1895

Tête de femme (Head of a Woman) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Henri-Charles Guérard. It dates from 1895 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Henri‑Charles Guérard’s 1895 woodcut titled *Tête de femme* presents a solitary female head rendered in stark black against the warm orange of the paper. Executed on a thin wove sheet, the image measures only the dimensions of the sheet itself, allowing the figure to dominate the field with minimal surrounding detail.

Subject & Meaning

The composition isolates a woman’s face and shoulders, her hair drawn back and a high collar framing the neck. The lack of background elements focuses attention on the sitter’s expression and the formal qualities of the portrait, suggesting an interest in the psychological presence of the individual rather than narrative context.

Technique & Style

Guérard employed the woodcut process, carving the design into a block of wood and transferring the inked surface onto the paper. The resulting lines are assertive yet retain a slightly uneven edge, characteristic of hand‑cut prints. The graphic treatment aligns with the artist’s broader printmaking practice, emphasizing bold contour and tonal contrast.

History & Provenance

Created during Guérard’s active period in Paris, the work reflects his engagement with print media alongside his painting career. While specific ownership records are scarce, the piece is documented among his late‑19th‑century prints, which were often circulated among collectors of French graphic art.

Context

In the 1890s, Parisian artists explored printmaking as a means of rapid, reproducible art, responding to both commercial demands and avant‑garde experimentation. Guérard’s *Tête de femme* exemplifies this trend, marrying traditional woodcut techniques with a modern, pared‑down aesthetic that resonated with contemporary tastes for graphic clarity.