Twee jonge vrouwen, in profiel c. 1886 - 1934

Isaac Israels sketched “Twee jonge vrouwen, in profiel” with a profound sense of capturing the fleeting nature of human connection. Here, the motif of the profile, turned inward, speaks to the intimate yet detached nature of modern life, a theme that has haunted artists across centuries. Consider the echo of classical portraiture, where the profile was a symbol of nobility and permanence, now softened and blurred. This drawing brings to mind the Renaissance portraits, yet Israels strips away the grandeur, revealing a quiet moment of introspection. The act of turning away, a recurring gesture in art, echoes through time, from melancholic Madonnas to alienated figures in modern cinema. The emotional weight of this simple pose is immense, engaging our own subconscious understanding of solitude and connection. It stirs a deep, almost primal recognition of the human condition, a silent dialogue that transcends time.