Dame in avondtoilet 1905

Isaac Israels made "Dame in avondtoilet" with oil paints, creating this portrait through layers of careful observation. You can almost feel the texture of the dress as Israels applied the paint with a kind of casual precision. Look at how he uses these thin, washy layers to build up the form, it's not about hiding the process, it's about revealing it. The brushstrokes around her face are particularly telling. They’re soft, almost caressing, bringing out a gentle expression, a moment of contemplation. The colours, mostly muted, with subtle shifts of tone, create a harmonious feel, but then, there’s a sudden splash of pink in the flowers she holds. It’s like a little surprise, a burst of life in the stillness. Israels reminds me a little of Manet in his attention to the everyday, but with a more intimate touch. He wasn’t afraid to leave things unresolved, allowing the painting to breathe, to remain open to interpretation.