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Grotesque Head of an Old Woman

Leonardo da Vinci

1490

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Early Renaissance Renaissance Renaissance

Dominant colour

Grotesque Head of an Old Woman is a 1490 ink by Leonardo da Vinci, a Early Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Leonardo da Vinci
When & what style?: 1490 · Early Renaissance
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch shows a strange, wrinkled face in profile, drawn with quick, scratchy lines. The woman’s head is tilted slightly, and her hair is pulled back under a cap. The paper has a textured look, like old paper, and the drawing is framed by a simple border. The lines overlap in places, creating shadows without color. This is called cross-hatching, where layers of lines build up dark areas. Look up cross-hatching to see how artists use it to make depth.