Vrouwenhoofd c. 1925s

Isaac Israels made this drawing, "Vrouwenhoofd," with graphite on paper. Israels is sketching out the idea of a head, not trying to capture every detail, but isn't that what art is all about? Look how the lines are quick and light, almost like he's thinking aloud on the page. The marks around her head are like scribbles, but they give the impression of hair and headscarf at the same time. The graphite is delicate, and the paper is visible underneath; he really allows the medium to breathe, doesn't he? See how the lines defining her features are confident yet minimal, it's kind of intimate. Take a look at the lines which suggest the eyes. They're not overly detailed, but they convey the idea of a woman deep in thought. There's a sense of movement and energy in every stroke. Israels's contemporary John Singer Sargent was also interested in capturing the fleeting essence of a subject, though in paint rather than graphite. Both artists remind us that art is an ongoing experiment in seeing, thinking, and feeling.