Head of a Female Figure in Profile, Turned to the Right
1766
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1766
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
This painting shows a woman turned to the right, her face half in shadow. The artist used soft lines to shape her features, giving a quiet, thoughtful mood. The right side of her face glows softly against the dark background. This was part of a trend in 18th-century France where artists practiced drawing heads to show specific emotions. These "expressive heads" became a training exercise, even winning prizes at the Royal Academy. Check out another work by Hughes Taraval at The Cleveland Museum of Art.
