Vrouwenhoofd 1875 - 1934

This drawing, *Vrouwenhoofd*, or *Head of a Woman*, by Isaac Israels, is on paper, and it looks like he made it in one go. You can almost feel his hand moving as he tried to capture her essence. The pencil lines are tentative, yet confident, a kind of searching that's visible right there on the surface. Look at the shading around her hair – it’s almost like he's scribbling, trying to find the right form, the right weight. I like how the lines around her face are so delicate, giving her a soft, gentle quality. It feels like a fleeting moment, as if she might turn her head any second. It reminds me a little of Degas’ drawings, that same interest in capturing the everyday, the intimate. But Israels has his own voice, his own way of seeing. It’s a reminder that art isn't about perfection, it’s about exploration and feeling.