Head of an Old Woman (Visscher's Mother)
1650
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
1650
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Head of an Old Woman (Visscher's Mother) is a 1650 ink by Cornelis Visscher, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This portrait features a woman with a stern expression, her head turned to the right. She wears a headscarf and a dark coat with a fur collar, which is adorned with a brooch. The background is dark, with subtle shading that adds depth to the image. The woman's facial features are rendered in fine detail, with deep lines etched into her forehead and around her mouth. Her eyes seem to gaze into the distance, conveying a sense of quiet contemplation. The overall effect is one of somber introspection, as if the subject is lost in thought. The artist's use of etching and engraving techniques creates a sense of texture and depth, drawing the viewer's eye to the subject's face. For more works that explore the human experience through portraiture, consider the art of Rembrandt van Rijn.
