Profielkop naar rechts van een dame 1862 - 1930

Antonio Mancini made this red and black chalk drawing, ‘Profile Head of a Lady,’ in Italy sometime in the late 19th century. Mancini's style is characterized by its loose, expressive lines. Here, these lines evoke the sitter’s likeness, but also something about her social standing. Mancini, working in a newly unified Italy, often depicted the lives of the poor and working class. Though this woman is not explicitly identified as such, her simplified features, downcast gaze, and the sketch-like quality of the work suggest a departure from traditional, idealized portraiture of the upper classes. The Rijksmuseum acquired this drawing, indicating the institutional recognition given to Mancini's work. As historians, we can look to sources from Mancini's time, such as letters and exhibition reviews, to learn more about his intentions and how his work was received by the public and the art world. Through this research, we can better understand how Mancini used his art to engage with the social and political issues of his day.