Vrouw met hoofdtooi, in profiel c. 1930 - 1934

This drawing of a woman in profile wearing a headdress was created by Isaac Israels, and is now held at the Rijksmuseum. The artist seems to be thinking through form in process. The way the shading is applied tells me he is less concerned with making a perfect likeness, and more with getting down a sense of the figure in its totality. Look at the marks around the face, they are tentative, but then become more sure around the headdress. I love this contrast. The quick, almost frantic, lines give a sense of urgency, like the artist is trying to capture a fleeting moment. The overall effect is one of lightness and spontaneity, mirroring the way Edgar Degas would often work. There is an acceptance of ambiguity in a work like this, and that is what makes it so compelling. It feels unfinished, but complete. And in a way, it reminds us that art is never truly finished, but is always evolving.