Twee vrouwen aan een toilettafel in een kleedkamer c. 1915s - 1925s

Editor: Here we have "Two Women at a Dressing Table in a Dressing Room," a pencil drawing made sometime between 1915 and 1925 by Isaac Israels, held at the Rijksmuseum. I find this drawing intriguing. The quick, gestural lines give it such immediacy, as if we’ve caught a glimpse into a private moment. What’s your take on this, what stands out to you? Curator: Oh, I feel like I’m peeking behind the curtains! The beauty of a sketch like this lies in its intimacy. You see the artist thinking, right there on the page. Imagine Israels, capturing the fleeting light, the way fabric drapes…it's not about polished perfection, but about conveying a feeling. Editor: It almost feels unfinished, but that's what I love about it. I am curious, why a dressing room scene? Is there a particular significance? Curator: Well, dressing rooms were, and still are, liminal spaces—thresholds. They’re places of transformation, where identity is both constructed and performed. These women, are they preparing for the stage, or for society's gaze? Editor: Interesting point. That's not something I had considered. Curator: Look at the energy in the lines, almost vibrating with a sense of anticipation or perhaps even anxiety. Does the sketch convey only getting ready? Or does it ask more of us? Editor: I suppose both. It's more complex than just getting ready! I’ll certainly look at sketches differently from now on! Thanks for that insightful peek! Curator: The pleasure was all mine! Remember, art is just another way of seeing the world, so don't hesitate to challenge those initial, impulsive feelings.