Vrouwenhoofd met oorbel, in profiel 1875 - 1934

Here's a drawing of a woman’s head in profile with an earring by Isaac Israels. What I love about this drawing is how it embodies the act of seeing itself, like a search for form. You can see how the artist is working to render her image, line by line, and sometimes even going over the same line again and again, to suggest the curves of the neck or the shape of the head. I can imagine Israels really studying his model to try and capture her essence. That line extending from the nose, almost floating out into space, is so evocative. It suggests an openness, a willingness to let the drawing breathe and find its own way. It's a reminder that art is not about perfect representation, but about feeling, movement, and the ongoing process of discovery. Other artists like Matisse have looked at Israels work to find new approaches to drawing. It’s all a big conversation that we are invited to join!