Hoofd van een vrouwelijke heilige of van Maria 1440 - 1478

Hugo van der Goes made this silverpoint drawing of a woman’s head sometime before his death in 1482. In the late 15th century, when Van der Goes was working, the status of women in religious contexts was complex. They were revered as symbols of purity and maternal love in the figure of the Virgin Mary, yet also faced societal constraints and were often excluded from religious leadership roles. Looking at the drawing, there’s a captivating blend of serenity and introspection. Her gaze is soft and downwards. The delicate lines suggest both her physical beauty and inner contemplation. While the title suggests a holy figure, the drawing may also be a study of female beauty, reflecting the period's evolving views on women, where the sacred and the secular often intertwined. It invites us to consider the multifaceted roles women played in the religious and social fabric of the late 15th century, and the tension between idealised representation and lived experience.