Staande vrouw in oosterse kleding 1887 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this drawing, Staande vrouw in oosterse kleding, with pastel. It’s all about this gentle, almost vanishing figure. I love the way Israels uses the pastel, smudging and layering it to create a hazy, dreamlike image. The texture is soft, and the colors blend so subtly it’s like she’s emerging from the paper. Look at the way he defines her dress with these soft strokes of white and blue, and then sets it against that warm, brownish background. The whole thing has a very specific mood; quiet, muted, thoughtful. There’s a little pop of yellow at the top of her head, a focal point which brings your eye to the center of the work. It reminds me of Whistler’s tonalist paintings, where the atmosphere and mood are everything. Art’s not always about answers, right? Sometimes, it’s just about soaking in a feeling.