Vrouwenhoofd met hoed 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this drawing, titled 'Vrouwenhoofd met hoed', using graphite on paper. Graphite, in its raw form, is a soft, crystalline form of carbon, and its use here is as a readily available, relatively inexpensive material that allows for quick, expressive sketching. Consider the directness of the medium: Israels would have been able to work swiftly, capturing the likeness of his subject with a minimum of fuss. The very immediacy of the graphite lines suggests a fleeting moment, a study dashed off with purpose and energy. The marks, in turn, give texture to the image: note the delicate hatching that describes the fall of light on the woman’s face, and the bolder strokes that define the contours of her hat. Although this sketch may seem informal, its artistic value lies in its representation of a moment in time. Israels was not simply interested in the appearance of this woman; it was also a study of how social status is produced, and how the act of drawing itself contributes to the creation of value.