Vrouwenhoofd c. 1886 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this drawing, Vrouwenhoofd, with what looks like charcoal or graphite, in a sketchbook. It's all about capturing a fleeting moment, isn't it? The way he's built up the tones with these quick, smudgy marks—it's like he's trying to grab the essence of the form, not just its outline. See how the lines around the head fade out into this hazy background? It gives the drawing a real sense of atmosphere. There's this push and pull between what's defined and what's dissolving. I'm reminded of Whistler and his etchings, where he's playing with similar ideas of suggestion and impermanence. And that, to me, is the beauty of art. It's not about answers, but about the conversation and the questions it evokes.