Head of a young woman 'La Scapigliata'
Oil on panel, 24.7 x 21 cm, by Leonardo da Vinci, c. 1492–1501
Galleria Nazionale, Parma

This is an unfinished portrait that continues to spark debate and intrigue among art historians. The work depicts a young woman with her gaze downcast and her hair, the source of the painting's nickname (the dishevelled hair), flowing loosely around her face. Da Vinci employs a deliberate and contrasting technique. The background fades into a hazy, unfinished sketch, while the hair itself is rendered with a looser touch, individual strands only hinted at. In stark contrast, the woman's face is meticulously rendered with delicate sfumato. This approach draws the viewer's focus to the woman's enigmatic expression: a hint of a smile plays on her lips, but her downcast eyes and furrowed brow suggest a more complex emotional state. The identity of the woman and the original purpose of the painting remain a mystery, further contributing to its allure. Art historians have proposed various theories, suggesting the woman could be a real person, perhaps even a mistress of one of da Vinci's patrons. Alternatively, she might be an allegorical figure, representing a classical muse or a personification of an abstract concept. Another theory proposes the work was a preparatory study for a larger, unfinished composition.