Meisjeskopje, driekwart naar rechts 1834 - 1911

Editor: This pencil drawing, “Meisjeskopje, driekwart naar rechts,” or “Head of a Girl, Three-Quarters Right,” by Jozef Israëls, dating from 1834 to 1911 and residing here at the Rijksmuseum, is delicate and full of tentative lines. I’m struck by its raw, almost vulnerable quality. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see the genesis of an idea, a fleeting glimpse captured in pencil. The slight asymmetry of her features, the soft rendering of light – they hint at something more than just a portrait. Notice how the lines around her eyes are more defined? To me, those suggest a subtle symbolism – a window to the soul, a place of deeper understanding and perhaps even suppressed emotion. The lack of ornamentation further emphasizes an honesty, a direct link between the viewer and the subject. Do you agree? Editor: That’s insightful. I hadn't considered how the asymmetry and simplicity might contribute to the feeling of honesty. It does seem less idealized than other portraits of the period. Curator: Exactly. This feels like a personal observation rather than a formal commission. And consider the vulnerability inherent in the gaze – averted, thoughtful. It avoids direct confrontation. What meanings or emotions might this choice evoke for a viewer today? What cultural memories might it stir? Editor: Perhaps a sense of intimacy, but also distance. I’m wondering about the continuity between these pencil lines and the face itself. Does the medium somehow determine the meaning, or does the meaning shape the medium? Curator: A superb question! The pencil is a tool, yes, but also an intermediary, like a language. In this instance, it translates ephemeral emotion into something tangible. The artist attempts to explore inner character and continuity through lines of sight that converge on the subject. We now see her with insight! Editor: That's helped me look at the work in a new light. Thanks for sharing your expertise. Curator: The pleasure was all mine. Every sketch whispers secrets if you listen closely.