Mannenhoofd en een vrouw, ten halven lijve c. 1915s - 1925s

This drawing of a man and woman was made by Isaac Israels and can be found in the Rijksmuseum. There's a real sense of immediacy to this sketch, like Israels was trying to capture a fleeting moment or feeling. The marks are raw and energetic, and the faces are quickly sketched and full of character. Look at the shading, it’s almost scribbled. You can feel the artist’s hand moving across the page, trying to get the essence of these people down, and it gives the sketch such an informal, intimate feel, like a snatched conversation overheard in a cafe. This sketch reminds me a little of work by Toulouse Lautrec, who also had a real gift for capturing the energy of Parisian life with just a few lines. Ultimately, it's this unfinished, unpolished quality that makes the work so appealing. It's a glimpse into the artist's process, a reminder that art is often more about exploration and discovery than about perfect representation.