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Head of a Young Woman

Thomas Cheesman

1797

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism 18th Century Portrait

Dominant colour

Head of a Young Woman is a 1797 ink by Thomas Cheesman, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Thomas Cheesman
When & what style?: 1797 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This close-up shows a young woman’s face and shoulder, turned slightly away. Her hair is piled high with loose curls framing her face. The shading is soft but detailed, especially around her eyes and lips. The artist used fine lines and shading to create depth without color. This was a common way to make prints look almost like paintings back then. Want to see more? Check out the technique: engraving.