Vrouwenhoofd met hoed en voile 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this drawing of a woman's head with charcoal or graphite. It’s all tentative lines and smudgy shading, like he’s feeling his way around her form. I imagine Israels rapidly building up the image through layers of marks, letting the hat become these bold, almost architectural forms, contrasting with the delicate veil suggested by the soft, granular textures of the charcoal. It's like he’s trying to capture the essence of the sitter, the feeling of her presence, rather than a precise likeness. There's a kind of generosity in the way he leaves things unresolved, inviting the viewer to fill in the gaps, to participate in the act of seeing. This piece reminds me of other artists who are interested in the ephemeral aspects of human experience like Vuillard. There is a real sense of ongoing exchange of ideas across generations of painters who embrace uncertainty.