Japanese lady in red kimono 1920

Isaac Israels painted this portrait of a Japanese lady in a red kimono with oil on canvas. The brushstrokes are loose, almost gestural, which gives it this feeling of immediacy, like it was done in one sitting. It’s all about process, about capturing a fleeting moment. I love how the red of the kimono pops against the muted background. It's not just red, it’s a whole symphony of reds, from bright scarlet to deep crimson, built up with these visible layers of paint. If you look closely, you can see how Israels used his brush to drag the paint, creating texture and depth. There’s this one spot on the sleeve where the red is especially thick, almost sculptural. It’s like he wanted to show you the materiality of the paint itself. Israels reminds me of someone like Manet. Both were interested in capturing the energy of modern life. They’re showing us that art is always in conversation, always building on what came before, but always open to new interpretations.