Vrouwenhoofd 1886 - 1903

Isaac Israels made this sketch, Vrouwenhoofd, with crayon on paper. Israels was an Amsterdam Impressionist, capturing everyday life with loose strokes and a keen eye for the fleeting moment. Made at the turn of the 20th century, the drawing reflects a shift in artistic focus toward the working class and the urban environment, away from traditional portraiture of the wealthy. Israels moved in unconventional circles, taking his models from the streets and the working class. The sketch seems unfinished, a snippet of everyday life caught on paper. This aesthetic aligned with the increasing popularity of photography, which offered new ways to capture reality. To fully understand Israels’ work, we can examine exhibition records, critical reviews, and his personal correspondence to understand how his art both reflected and challenged the social norms of his time.