Twee vrouwenhoofden 1887 - 1934

Editor: Here we have Isaac Israels' "Twee vrouwenhoofden", which roughly translates to "Two Women's Heads," a pencil drawing created sometime between 1887 and 1934, now at the Rijksmuseum. The simplicity is striking. It feels almost unfinished, like a fleeting thought captured on paper. What strikes you about this seemingly casual sketch? Curator: Casual, yes, but also deeply intimate, don't you think? Like stumbling upon a private moment. Israels isn’t trying to immortalize these women; he's capturing their essence, their repose. It's whispery, this work. The faintest breath of a line suggesting a world of emotion, a lifetime of experience maybe? Editor: I can see that. The loose lines definitely lend to a feeling of transience. Almost as though the women could vanish at any second. It reminds me a little of Degas’ pastels. Curator: Exactly! Think about the Impressionists, their obsession with light and movement. Israels shared that fascination, but he also had this uncanny ability to see beyond the surface. What stories do you imagine these women could tell? It makes me wonder about the untold lives buzzing behind their closed eyes. I almost want to ask: were they resting, bored or plotting world domination in their mind palaces? Editor: (Laughing) Maybe all of the above! Looking at the lines again, I appreciate the efficiency. Such minimal strokes conveying so much… it feels very modern. Curator: Yes! It is like he had seen his subjects with eyes closed halfway, and trying to rememebr details with this mental imprint. And what a feeling to express! Even after all this time, it's like the work still murmurs a story. Makes you wonder about all the half-finished symphonies humming in the universe, doesn't it? Editor: Absolutely. I definitely have a different perspective on sketching now; thank you.