Vrouwenhoofd 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this drawing, Vrouwenhoofd, with pencil on paper, and look, it’s in the Rijksmuseum. It's just a sketch, right? But there’s something really alive about these quick marks, like he's trying to catch a fleeting moment. I like how Israels doesn’t fuss over details; he lets the lines dance around the form, and this way he gets to the essence of the woman's expression. There’s something very honest about that to me, like he’s not trying to impress anyone, just trying to understand what he’s seeing. Check out how he uses these little scribbles to define the shadows on her face. It’s not about being precise, but about capturing the play of light and dark. It reminds me a little of Daumier, that same kind of everyday observation, but with a lighter touch. And it reminds me that art isn't always about perfection, it’s about the joy of seeing and trying to capture it, even if just for a second.