Gezicht van een vrouw c. 1915s - 1925s

Here we have a sketch of a woman's face made by Isaac Israels, though when exactly, nobody seems to know. Look at these graphite lines, so tentative, yet so expressive! I can imagine Israels in the act of drawing, his hand moving swiftly across the paper, capturing the fleeting essence of his sitter. What was she thinking? Was she even aware she was being sketched? Did she shift and move, never allowing him a perfect moment? The thin, delicate lines suggest a sense of immediacy, as if he were trying to capture a fleeting impression, a momentary glimpse of her inner self. The way the lines build up, layer upon layer, creates a sense of depth and volume, even in this minimalist sketch. It reminds me a little of the rapid lines of Matisse. It’s like peeking into the artist's mind, witnessing his thought process as he grapples with the challenge of translating three-dimensional reality onto a two-dimensional surface. The conversation between artists carries on, echoing through the ages. Each brushstroke and pencil line is a testament to the enduring power of art.