Vrouw, mogelijk in een etablissement 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this drawing of a woman, possibly in an establishment, sometime between 1880 and 1934 using graphite on paper. You can see it's all about line and movement. Imagine Israels there, quickly sketching, trying to catch the essence of the scene. I wonder if he felt a connection to her, or was she just a figure in a bigger composition? The quick, light strokes give the drawing an almost ephemeral quality, like he's capturing a fleeting moment. The marks around her head and hair are especially great! There's a lovely sense of intimacy and observation, reminiscent of Degas, but with its own distinct flavor. It’s like a visual note, a quick thought jotted down, and it invites us to imagine the rest of the story. It is an image that captures a moment in time, and it feels incredibly contemporary.