Unknown, 16th century - Study for the head of a woman, ca. 1510

This drawing captures the delicate profile and three-dimensional volume of a woman’s features through soft shading and precise linework. The artist explores the rhythmic flow of hair and the subtle curvature of the mouth, likely as a study for a maternal figure like the Virgin Mary. The composition demonstrates a transition from structural anatomical observation to the fluid representation of movement and grace.

Leonardo's anatomical studies were deeply rooted in his natural philosophy, which viewed the human body as a 'minor mondo' (lesser world) reflecting universal laws. His pursuit of representing the 'motions of the mind' through physical gesture and expression aligns with Neoplatonic efforts to reconcile material form with the internal life of the soul.