Vrouw aan een tafel 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this watercolor, Vrouw aan een tafel, in the Netherlands, giving us a glimpse into a personal, intimate moment. You can see the loose brushstrokes, blending browns, blues, and pinks. It feels like Israels was trying to capture not just the woman, but also the atmosphere, the mood of the room. I imagine him, brush in hand, quickly trying to catch the light as it hits the woman’s face. Did he want to show her lost in thought? Or maybe he was struck by how the light played across the table? It's like he's painting a feeling more than a portrait. The colors are muted, soft, and the paint is really thin. It's about layering and letting the white of the paper peek through. With each stroke, Israels seems to be in conversation with other artists. We can see the legacy of impressionism, but he's bringing his own voice to the conversation. It’s all about artists riffing off each other, pushing boundaries, and finding new ways to see the world.