Head of a Young Woman

Head of a Young Woman (early 1730s) is an intimate study from Boucher's early period, possibly made during or shortly after his Italian journey. Such head studies served as both independent works and preparatory material for larger compositions. The young woman's features and expression show Boucher's early development of the idealized feminine type that would become his signature — the retroussé nose, small mouth, and wide eyes of the Rococo beauty.

The study shows Boucher's early handling at its most naturalistic, with warm flesh tones and subtle modeling that suggest direct observation from a model. The palette is warmer than his later, more decorative works.