Vrouw met gevouwen handen, in profiel c. 1886 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this watercolor of a woman with folded hands at an unknown date. Look closely at the way he's built up the image with washes of translucent color, allowing the white of the paper to shine through. You can almost see the puddles of paint forming, like a delicate dance between control and chance. There's a real tenderness in the way Israels captures the subject's posture and mood, and it feels like he's trying to capture a fleeting moment, an internal state of reflection. The blue of her dress is echoed in the background, creating a sense of harmony and unity. It’s as if the paint itself is breathing with the woman. Notice how the simple act of layering thin glazes of paint creates an impression of depth. This reminds me of Degas, with its intimate, unposed subject matter. Israels shows us that art doesn’t need to shout to be heard; sometimes, the quietest voices resonate the most.