Vrouwenhoofd 1875 - 1934

This drawing of a woman’s head, made by Isaac Israels, is all about capturing a fleeting moment. Look at the economy of line, how Israels uses just a few strokes to suggest form and volume. The whole thing feels incredibly immediate, like it was dashed off in a matter of minutes. There's something so satisfying about the way the charcoal sits on the page; you can almost feel the texture of the paper. Notice the small, dark mark just below the woman’s chin? It’s like a tiny anchor that grounds the whole composition. It's a reminder of the artist’s hand, the physical act of drawing, which I think is pretty special. Israels reminds me a little of Manet, in the way he's able to convey so much with so little. It’s this idea that art isn’t about perfection or representation, but about the energy and life that comes through in the process. It’s an ongoing conversation about how we see and interpret the world, and there’s no one right answer.