Buste van een vrouw 1723 - 1769

Johann Georg Trautmann created this small drawing, "Buste van een vrouw," with a network of fine, controlled lines. The marks define the figure and create areas of shadow that give the subject a three-dimensional presence. Look closely at how Trautmann uses hatching and cross-hatching to build up tone, particularly in the woman's dress and head covering. The density of these lines suggests not just the fall of light, but also the texture of the fabric. The composition is contained, focusing our attention on the bust of the woman, but the loose rendering of the lines keeps the image from feeling static or overly formal. This study in line and form is not merely representational, it destabilizes traditional notions of portraiture by focusing on the materiality of the marks themselves. As you contemplate this drawing, consider how Trautmann uses the inherent qualities of the medium to construct a visual language that speaks beyond the subject matter. The drawing invites us to interpret the interplay between line, light, and texture, challenging us to see beyond the surface of representation.