Staande vrouw, in profiel 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this drawing, Staande Vrouw, in profiel, which translates to Standing Woman, in profile, with pencil on paper. You can see from the immediacy of the marks how he got the whole thing down in one fell swoop. It’s a quick sketch, a thought, a process of looking and feeling, captured in graphite. The weight of the line varies, at times a dark, definitive edge, and at others, just a whisper. Look at the head, how the hair is rendered with a flurry of delicate strokes, in contrast to the darker marks that define the line of her back. Then there’s the question of the dress, suggested with only a few strokes. I love how a few quick marks can tell us so much! It’s about seeing, really seeing, and then knowing what to leave out. Israels was known for his depictions of modern life, his interest in the fleeting moment reminds me of Degas, another artist who was constantly observing and recording the world around him. Like this sketch, art invites us to slow down, to look closely, and to find beauty in the everyday.