Hoofden met verschillende hoeden c. 1886 - 1934

Isaac Israels created this flurry of charcoal marks on paper in the Netherlands, and what grabs me right away is the pure joy in mark-making itself. Look at the way the charcoal sort of dances across the page, quick and light, capturing these ‘heads in hats’ as though he’s rapidly recording figures in the street. The texture of the paper is still visible, which gives it an unpretentious feel, like the image is just something he’s dashed off, en passant. The darkest marks add weight to the hats perched on the heads, anchoring the composition. It reminds me of drawings by Daumier, who also had a knack for capturing everyday life with such playful freedom. For me, this piece embodies the beauty of the sketch – the way it invites us into the artist's process, and the beauty of the process itself.