Verklede figuur en een vrouwenhoofd c. 1886 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this sketch of a costumed figure and a woman's head, likely with charcoal or graphite on paper. It feels immediate and raw. I can almost see him working, capturing the essence of his subjects with quick, confident strokes. The way the lines vary in thickness and pressure gives the figures a sense of volume and presence, even in their unfinished state. I imagine Israels observing his subjects intently, trying to capture their likeness and character with as few lines as possible. Maybe he was backstage at a theatre, quickly sketching performers in costume? The woman's head seems more abstract, like a fleeting impression or a memory. I love how he suggests form and depth with just a few scribbled lines. Looking at this drawing, I'm reminded of other artists who used drawing as a way to explore form and expression, like Daumier or even Manet. It's like they're all part of this ongoing conversation, each building on what came before. It is in these fleeting moments of creation where uncertainty meets intention, that the most interesting art emerges.