Vrouwenhoofd met hoofddeksel c. 1886 - 1903

Isaac Israels made this sketch of a woman's head with head covering in charcoal on paper. Israels belonged to a generation of Dutch artists who turned away from the traditions of the Hague School. Israels was known for his ability to capture fleeting moments and for his interest in representing modern urban life, particularly the lives of working-class women. Though it is difficult to pinpoint the exact type of head covering she wears, it brings to mind the types of coverings worn by working class women or religious dress. Either way, the loose strokes add to the sense of a private or interior moment. We are presented with her face in repose. This intimacy invites us to contemplate the relationship between the artist and his subject, considering how gender and class dynamics might have influenced both the creation and our perception of this work. In focusing on a fleeting moment, Israels asks us to see the woman as an individual, not just an archetype.