Twee vrouwenhoofden 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels created this sketch of two women’s heads with what looks like a graphite stick on paper. The lines are quick, gestural, and full of energy. I bet he drew this from life, trying to capture something fleeting. I can imagine Israels in his studio, rapidly sketching. See how the marks suggest the forms without fully defining them? Like the hatching on the woman’s face, it's almost scribbled, but it totally works to create depth and shadow. It's not overworked; there's a freshness to it. The tilted perspective is interesting. There's a relaxed intimacy to the way he captured these women. I wonder if they were friends of his, or maybe even family? I love how artists like Israels are in conversation with artists today, inspiring us to embrace spontaneity and imperfection in our own work.