Vrouwenhoofd, in profiel c. 1886 - 1934

Isaac Israels drew this head of a woman in profile with a light touch and an eye for the essential. The line is so minimal, so understated, and yet she's right there. I can imagine Israels in his studio, quickly trying to capture the essence of his sitter with just a few strokes. He doesn't fuss over details, but instead focuses on the overall shape and expression of the head. That one dark line that defines the eyebrow and the slope of the nose, and the other that completes the lips, they give her a kind of gentle, knowing gaze, don’t they? It's like he’s trying to capture a fleeting moment, a glimpse of something real and true. Israels was part of a generation of artists who were looking for new ways to represent the world around them, and that simple drawing is a perfect example of that spirit of experimentation and innovation.