Twee vrouwenhoofden 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made these two studies of women’s heads with graphite on paper, and they now reside at the Rijksmuseum. It’s great to see the sketchiness, the immediacy, and the kind of groping around that happens when an artist is trying to capture something essential. I imagine Israels with his sketchbook, quickly trying to distill these two women's features into just a few lines. What were they like, I wonder? Were they aware they were being sketched? There’s a real sense of intimacy in these portraits, a closeness that comes from the artist's focused attention. The lines are so minimal, but they manage to suggest so much – a tilt of the head, the curve of a cheek, the way the light catches the hair. It reminds you that a drawing can be more than just a representation; it can be a record of a moment, a feeling, a connection. And here they are, two women, immortalized in a quick sketch, still whispering secrets to those who take the time to look.