Staande vrouw, in profiel 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this simple pencil drawing, now at the Rijksmuseum. It's just a quick sketch, a standing woman in profile, maybe observed in a cafe or on the street. Israels has described just enough to let you know what he saw: the set of her shoulders, the line of her back, the sweep of the skirt. These lines are so intimate and sure, like a caress – he’s not trying to impress anyone, and the drawing feels alive and full of potential. I imagine Israels walking around with his sketchbook, always looking, taking notes. I do the same sometimes. It's like a conversation with the world, figuring out what catches your eye and why. I find it so interesting how one artist can see something and then show it to us in a way that makes us feel like we were there, too. That’s the magic, I think.