Vrouwenhoofd met hoed c. 1890 - 1920

Isaac Israels made this drawing, Vrouwenhoofd met hoed, with what looks like charcoal or maybe soft graphite. You know, there's something so appealing about seeing an artist work through an idea, finding their way. The beauty of this piece lies in its immediacy, the visible process. The marks are raw, unblended, some areas barely there, just a ghost of an idea. But look closer at the hat, the way the charcoal is densely packed, almost scribbled, creating a texture that's both chaotic and controlled. The lines around the face are so minimal, yet they capture the essence of a person. It's like Israels is saying, "Here's what I see, in its most basic form." This drawing reminds me a bit of Degas' sketches – that same interest in capturing a fleeting moment, a sense of movement and life in just a few lines. It's not about perfection; it's about the energy of the gesture. And that's what makes art so alive, isn't it?