Woman before ''Sunflowers'' by van Gogh, Isaac Israels

Woman before ''Sunflowers'' by van Gogh, Isaac Israels (1917)

Woman, en profil for Van Gogh's Sunflowers is a painting by Dutch Impressionist painter Isaac Israëls, painted in 1917. It a model with bared upper body for a version of Vincent van Gogh's Sunflowers.

In Woman, en profil for Van Gogh's Sunflowers, Israëls has a young woman posing as a Javanese dancer with her upper body bared for Van Gogh's version of the Sunflowers. The model is probably from the circle of friends Raden Mas Jodjana (1893-1972), a Javanese prince who came to the Netherlands to study and made a name for himself as a dancer. In 1915, he befriended Israëls, who would also portray him on several occasions, often in Javanese ornament.

Woman, en profil in front of Van Gogh's sunflowers is mainly intended as a study in contrasts, but also shows Israëls' admiration for Van Gogh's 'French' work, which was not widely shared in the Netherlands at the time. Nevertheless, he clearly does not copy Van Gogh's work, but elaborates it in his typical sketch-like style, with its characteristic broad and flat touch. Striking is the model's careful drawing and lines, which gives this work a special place within his oeuvre.