Head of a Woman (Mme. Deshayes?)
1771
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1771
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
A woman turns her head slightly in profile. Her dark curls and white lace cap stand out against the plain background. The red pigment in her lips and cheeks adds a bold touch. This print looks like a painting but it’s made with ink on paper. Bonnet used three printing plates to layer colors: black first, then blue, then red. Each run through the press had to line up perfectly. Check out the technique behind it—chiaroscuro.
