Twee vrouwenhoofden 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this drawing of two women's heads, probably in his studio, with what looks like charcoal on paper. The way he's built up the image is cool; it’s all about mark-making. See how he uses these bold, dark lines to define the shapes and give them weight? It's like he's feeling his way around the forms, almost sculpting them with the charcoal. Then, on the left, it seems he's testing out the charcoal, or maybe abandoned an earlier idea. You can feel the process, the artist thinking and rethinking. What I love is how these simple materials—paper and charcoal—become so expressive. It reminds me of Käthe Kollwitz, who also knew how to wring every last drop of emotion out of black and white. Ultimately, for me, art isn’t about answers but about keeping the conversation going, embracing the questions, and revelling in the messy, beautiful process.