Drie studies van twee jonge vrouwen, in profiel c. 1886 - 1934

This sketch by Isaac Israels presents us with three studies of young women, each captured in profile with charcoal on paper. The profile, a classical motif, has long been used to depict nobility and convey an air of timelessness. Here, these women in profile offer more than just a physical likeness; their downward gaze, a gesture laden with introspection, suggests a deeper psychological narrative. Consider how the act of looking down has echoed through art history, from melancholic Madonnas to pensive portraits of philosophers. The downward gaze, in its various forms, is a recurring theme, manifesting in the works of artists across different eras. It speaks to a universal human experience, connecting us through a shared understanding of contemplation and inner reflection. This image, rendered with raw immediacy, taps into the collective memory. It invites us to reflect on the enduring power of the profile as a mode of representation.