Vrouwelijk naakt 1875 - 1934

This is Isaac Israels’ sketch of a reclining nude. It was made with ink on paper, a modest medium for a seemingly informal study. But don't be fooled by the work's quick, improvisational feel. Look closer, and you'll see the artist's hand at play in every mark. The choice of material is significant. Ink, unlike paint, offers little opportunity for correction. Each line is a commitment, a decision made in real time. You get a sense of Israels grappling with the form, tracing the curves and contours of the model’s body with a focused intensity. The sketch appears raw, unmediated, and close to the subject. Israels was interested in the fleeting moments of modern life. He sought to capture the immediacy of experience, and this is reflected in his choice of materials. The ease of ink and paper allowed him to work quickly, capturing the ephemeral nature of the subject. In its directness, the work reveals a truth about drawing itself, in a way that transcends the traditional hierarchies of art.