Vrouw met hoed, in profiel c. 1886 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this pencil drawing of a woman in a hat. It’s a simple sketch, really, just a few lines capturing a fleeting moment, but it has a certain charm, doesn’t it? Israels' marks are direct and unpretentious. He doesn't seem to be trying to impress anyone with his skill, it's more like he's thinking aloud with his pencil. Look at the lines of her blouse – they’re so straightforward. The shading on her hat, built up from countless tiny marks, seems to echo in the delicate lines describing the angle of her face, and the dark, smudged charcoal of her hair. It gives the impression of the woman’s gravity, like the weight of her hat is pulling her face down. You see a similar approach in the work of Edgar Degas, another artist who was fascinated by capturing everyday moments. Both artists remind us that art is not about perfection, but about observation, feeling, and the simple joy of mark-making. Ultimately, it’s a conversation between the artist, the subject, and us, the viewers.