1758
charcoal
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Head and Bust of a Woman is a 1758 charcoal by Joshua Reynolds, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a woman’s face and shoulders, drawn in soft charcoal and pastel. Her hair is pulled back loosely, and a lace collar sits at her neck. The lines are quick and warm, with light shading on her skin and clothing. The artist used a mix of smudged and precise strokes—notice how the collar’s lace is drawn with quick, confident marks. This style fits the Baroque period, where portraits often felt lively and expressive. Next, look up pastel to see how artists used colored chalk to create rich, blended effects like this.
Sir Joshua Reynolds (16 July 1723 – 23 February 1792) was an English painter who specialised in portraits.
See the richer artist pageYour cart is empty
Explore artworks →
