Vrouwenhoofd 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this drawing on paper sometime in his lifetime. Israels captures the fleeting nature of existence, with the strokes of the graphite seemingly dancing across the surface, as if trying to catch a thought before it vanishes. I wonder about the model, about her inner life, and about what it might have been like to sit for Israels. Did they talk? What was the atmosphere in the room? The artist's hand moved quickly, decisively, yet with a tenderness that reveals a deep connection with his subject. You can see, especially around the eyes and mouth, how the marks are tentative, searching, as if Israels is trying to capture not just the likeness of the woman, but also her spirit. Drawing is a language of its own, a conversation between the artist, the subject, and the viewer. Israels seems to be saying, "Look, here is a person, complex and beautiful in her transience." And in that moment of looking, we, too, become part of the conversation.