Twee vrouwenhoofden 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this drawing of two women's heads, probably in his sketchbook, just with a pencil. I love the economy of line here, how Israels captures so much with so little. It's like he's thinking through the image, figuring it out as he goes. You can almost feel the movement of his hand, the pressure on the pencil, as he finds the essential shapes and shadows of the faces. I'm drawn to the way he suggests form with just a few strokes. Look at the hair, it's a tangle of lines, but somehow it gives you a sense of volume and texture. And the faces, they're not overly detailed, but they have a real presence, a quiet dignity. It reminds me a little of Degas and Toulouse Lautrec, that sense of capturing a fleeting moment, an everyday scene, with such sensitivity and grace. For me, the beauty of this drawing lies in its simplicity, its honesty, it celebrates the art of seeing and the joy of mark-making.