Vrouw met hoed, in profiel 1875 - 1934

Curator: This is Isaac Israels' "Vrouw met hoed, in profiel", a pencil drawing, likely created between 1875 and 1934. What are your first thoughts on this portrait? Editor: Melancholy. There’s a real sense of downward drift, a weight on the neck… The hat seems to swallow the subject almost entirely. It's stark, yet captivating in its raw simplicity. Curator: Indeed, the lack of color enhances that emotional vulnerability. Israels was a master of capturing fleeting moments in everyday life. In a way, this piece defies conventional portraiture in its candid depiction, no grandeur. It invites you in, makes you feel as if you're overhearing an introspective moment. Editor: And Israels, influenced by Impressionism, often found his subjects amidst the bustle of urban settings. Yet, here, this woman in profile almost fades into the background, almost shying away. Could this work tell of how women in that time period may not always feel completely confident in the art scene, as if she's a figure within this movement who does not feel completely confident. Curator: Possibly. The Rijksmuseum's collection frames Israels as being dedicated to rendering figures in motion and often focusing on the daily lives of working-class citizens. However, his intimate portrayals, such as this one, bring an element of introspection and subtlety not seen very much at that time, don’t you agree? Editor: I do. And perhaps what strikes me the most, the subject doesn’t really stare back. There’s an element of refusal present as if the sitter isn't fully compliant, and isn’t necessarily in agreement with what it meant to be represented back then. The rapid marks made by Israels gives this profile a powerful essence, even without embellishment or conventional flattery. Curator: Precisely! What initially seemed like a straightforward profile drawing now resonates with quiet resistance, and almost an assertive withdrawal from being consumed. That’s the wonderful thing about encountering art: perceptions transform upon reflection. Editor: A humbling and truly moving observation! It also makes you ponder about the complex dynamic between the artist and their model during that era. A really intimate dance that goes well beyond merely documenting.