Hoofd van een vrouw met het haar in een middenscheiding Possibly 1646

Wenceslaus Hollar created this etching of a woman's head with her hair in a middle parting in 1646. Hollar, a Bohemian printmaker active in 17th-century Europe, created a prolific body of work documenting the social customs and appearance of people during a time of significant change in Europe. The woman depicted here, with her modest yet fashionable attire, embodies the virtues and values associated with women of the bourgeois class. She reflects the aesthetic and cultural ideals of feminine beauty and status during this era. The meticulous detail with which Hollar captures her likeness offers insight into the significance of portraiture. Portraits of women in the 17th century served as important cultural documents that reinforced societal norms around gender roles, class, and identity. Hollar's portrait invites us to reflect on the power dynamics inherent in the act of representation. The image is also a testament to the artist's skill in capturing the physical likeness and the subtle emotional nuances of his sitter.