Vrouwenhoofd met hoed, in profiel 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this drawing, Vrouwenhoofd met hoed, in profile, with chalk, and what strikes me is how immediate it feels, like a fleeting impression caught on paper. The chalk marks are so direct, capturing the essence of the woman's face and hat with a kind of joyful economy. There's a real physicality to the medium, you can almost feel the artist's hand moving across the page, building up the tones and textures with each stroke. Look at the way the dark, smudged lines define the hat, contrasting with the softer, more delicate shading of the face. It’s like a dance between boldness and subtlety, a balance that gives the work its energy. It reminds me of some of Degas’ drawings, that same interest in capturing a sense of movement and light, but with a slightly rougher edge. Ultimately, it’s the immediacy of the drawing that captivates, that sense of being right there with the artist, witnessing the act of creation unfold.