Meisje met hoed 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this drawing of a girl with a hat on paper, and it’s all about the way the marks flirt with the surface. It’s so casual, almost offhand, but still completely specific. I love how the pencil lines feel almost tentative, like the artist is feeling their way around the form. The hat, especially, is just a suggestion, a kind of aura around her face. And the way he captures the light on her face with just a few strokes - that’s the magic, right? It’s not about perfection, it’s about capturing a feeling, an impression. You can almost feel the breeze, see the way the light catches in her hair. This reminds me of Manet, actually – that same interest in modern life, in capturing fleeting moments. But Israels brings his own sensibility, a kind of understated charm. For me, art is always a conversation, a dialogue across time and space.