Drie vrouwenhoofden, in profiel c. 1886 - 1934

This is Isaac Israels' 'Three Women's Heads, in Profile' at the Rijksmuseum, and it's a work that's all about the energy of process, captured in charcoal and chalk. Look at how Israels lets the chalk almost dissolve into the surface, creating these ghostly impressions of form. The lines aren't precious; they’re exploratory, like he’s thinking through the act of seeing. Notice the smudges around the figures; it feels like he's not just drawing what he sees, but also the atmosphere around it. The charcoal is applied with a kind of directness that lets you feel the artist's hand moving across the page. This piece reminds me of other artists from his time, like Degas, who were fascinated by capturing fleeting moments. But there's also a raw, unfinished quality here that feels super contemporary. It shows us that art is more about the journey of looking and trying to understand, than arriving at some perfect image.