Tête de femme (Head of a Woman)

Henri-Charles Guérard

1895

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century

About this work

This image shows a simple, bold portrait of a woman’s face. The background is a flat orange block, and her hair and features are dark, almost like a shadow. The edges of the picture are rough, like it was cut by hand. The artist used a woodcut method, which means they carved the design into wood and stamped it. That’s why the lines are so sharp and the colors so solid. Next, check out the technique: woodcut to see how this printing method works.