Woman sitting with her head turned downwards to her right and eyes closed 1500 - 1600

This small, undated print at the Met depicts a seated woman in a state of melancholic repose, rendered with delicate lines. The composition is dominated by the woman's form, her head bowed, eyes closed, and arms crossed, all contributing to a sense of introversion. Notice how the artist uses hatching to create volume and shadow, particularly in the drapery, which cascades around her. The texture of the lines varies, creating a subtle play of light and dark that enhances the emotional depth of the image. The work invites a structuralist reading, focusing on the binary oppositions within the image: light versus shadow, stillness versus potential movement. This visual tension destabilizes the conventional representation of women, portraying a figure lost in thought. The artwork is not just a depiction but a complex interplay of form and meaning, challenging our perceptions and inviting contemplation.