Head of a Roman woman, quarter profile turned to the right 1628 - 1630

Willem Panneels rendered this drawing of a woman’s head with black and red chalk. The upward tilt of the head and soft modeling of the face evoke a sense of serene contemplation. Observe how Panneels used the red chalk to define the warm areas of the face and neck, suggesting blood flow beneath the skin. The black chalk, in contrast, delineates the contours and shadows, adding depth and structure. This combination not only gives the figure volume but also a lifelike presence, as though caught in a moment of reflection. The gaze toward the heavens implies an engagement with something beyond the earthly realm, yet the work remains grounded by the stark realism of its execution. It is in the tension between the material and the ethereal that the drawing finds its semiotic resonance, inviting us to contemplate the boundaries between representation and reality, presence and absence.