À propos de l’œuvre
Tête de femme, par Vincent van Gogh
Vincent van Gogh · March-April 1885 · Nuenen
Woman's head, F150Reproduction of oil painting on canvas
A woman wearing a black hat appears in profile in front of a very light yellow green background. Her face remains almost entirely in shadow: Van Gogh is less interested here in the identity of the model than in the contour of the head and the backlight effect.
Look at the work
A dark profile cut by light coming from behind
The cap forms a large irregular rectangle that almost touches the upper edge. Below, the forehead, nose, lips and chin compose a continuous silhouette, crossed only by a few green and brown reflections.
The light background is applied in long vertical touches of yellow-green and pale blue. To the left of the shoulder, it gradually darkens, which connects the almost black bust to the bright space.
Tête de femme F150/JH650 is an oil on canvas of 39.7 × 25.5 cm painted in Nuenen in March-April 1885. It is kept at the Kroeller-Müller Museum under number KM 110.977.
Composition, touch and color
Three observations specific to this painting
The expressive value of the portrait lies in the separation between shadow and light. Facial features are not very detailed; backlighting, silhouette and background transitions become the real subjects.
The black hat creates the dominant shape
Its wide, almost rectangular mass contrasts with the finer profile of the face. A few green-blue passages prevent this dark area from becoming entirely flat.
Eyes remain visible in the heart of the shadows
Small, clear, cold notes mark the eye without breaking the backlight. They give the model a discreet presence behind the strongly drawn profile.
The background shows the transition from light to dark
Very pale bluish greens gradually become darker near the left shoulder. The museum sees this as a direct study of chiaroscuro.
Documented benchmarks
Precisely identify the original work
F150/JH650, the KM 110.977 inventory and the dimensions 39.7 × 25.5 cm distinguish this Tête de femme from the numerous studies carried out in Nuenen.
Van Gogh works on the difficulty of shaded passages
In his peasant and weaver heads, he pays a lot of attention to light and dark. He considers the treatment of shadows to be essential to the value of a painting.
The silhouette takes precedence over the facial expression
The museum notice emphasizes this effect: the shape of the head stands out clearly, while the features remain subordinate to the lighting coming from the rear.
Light blue green turns dark near the shoulder
This transition remains rapid and visible. It shows Van Gogh studying how to connect an almost black figure to a bright background.
Your reproduction
What the painter must preserve
The copy must preserve the black cap, the continuous profile from forehead to chin, the barely lit eyes, the green-brown neck, the dark bust and the yellow-green transition of the background.
- The irregular outline of the large black hat
- The nose and lip line seen in profile
- The little blue-green glimmers in the eyes
- Brown and green passages of the neck
- The vertical gradient from the light background to the dark shoulder
Work sheet
| Title | Woman's head, F150 |
|---|---|
| Artist | Vincent van Gogh (1853 -1890) |
| Date | March-april 1885 |
| Place of creation | Nuenen |
| Original technique | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 39.7 × 25.5 cm |
| Inventory | F150 · JH650 · KM 110,977 |
| Conservation | Kroeller-Müller Museum, Otterlo |
| Your reproduction | Handmade oil painting on canvas |
From order to shipping
In your interior
A radical backlight with colorful blacks and bright green
Bluish black, olive green, earth brown, gray yellow and pale blue give modern strength to a minimalist office, entryway or interior.
Frequently asked questions
Before ordering
Is this a canvas print?
No. Each reproduction is manually painted in oil on canvas. Brushstrokes and material variations belong to the final result.
How is the visual reference chosen?
The IIIF image from the Kroeller-Müller Museum was prepared as a real WebP of 1,919 × 3,000 px, without artificial enlargement.
Can I check the result before shipping?
Yes. Photographs of the finished painting are sent to you; you can request alterations before validating the shipment.
Are custom formats possible?
Yes. The format can be adapted to your wall while maintaining the proportions and balance of the original composition.
