Vrouw met opgestoken haar, mogelijk een dienstmeid c. 1886 - 1903

Isaac Israels probably made this drawing of a woman, possibly a maid, using charcoal on paper. The grainy, soft texture of the charcoal allows for a quick, impressionistic capture of light and shadow, focusing on the face and suggesting the form of her upper body. Israels likely chose charcoal for its immediacy, a medium well-suited to informal sketches and studies. The rapid marks and erasures visible in the drawing show his process of observing and refining the image. The sketch-like quality reduces the social distance between the artist and the sitter, possibly a domestic worker. Israels’ focus on working-class subjects reflects a broader artistic interest in everyday life, and in people whose labor often goes unseen. The intimate nature of the drawing invites us to consider the individual humanity of the woman, beyond her social role. This work challenges the traditional hierarchy between fine art and the representation of labor.