Woman's Head

Italian painter Leonardo da Vinci created this haunting study around 1508, known as "La Scapigliata" (The Lady of the Disheveled Hair). A young woman's face emerges from an unfinished background, her softly modeled features contrasting with wild, sketchy hair. The work blurs the line between drawing and painting.

Leonardo used earth pigments and white lead on a small wooden panel, creating a study that demonstrates his sfumato technique. The deliberate contrast between finished face and unfinished hair may have been intentional, showcasing his artistic process. It now hangs at the Galleria Nazionale di Parma.