Vrouw, in profiel c. 1915s - 1925s

Isaac Israels made this drawing of a woman in profile with pencil on paper. It's funny, isn't it, how a few lines can suggest so much? Here, the artist lays down a network of marks, each one feeling like a question rather than a statement. Notice how the density of the marks around the hair contrasts with the bare openness of the background and the woman's body, creating a visual rhythm that pulls you in. I am drawn to the marks on her cheek, soft diagonal lines that suggest shadow but also tenderness. It's like Israels is feeling his way through the form, trusting the process to reveal something unexpected. The linear simplicity reminds me of Matisse's line drawings. You can see the hand and the eye working together to capture a fleeting impression. It reminds us that art is not just about what we see, but how we see and feel.