Twee figuurstudies 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this charcoal drawing, titled "Twee figuurstudies," at an unknown date. It’s all about the energy of mark-making here. Quick, decisive lines capture the figures, but it’s like they're about to dissolve back into the paper. Israels’ charcoal feels almost impatient, which is not a bad thing. Look at the way the shadows are built up, especially around the lower figure. There's a real sense of weight and volume created with just a few strokes. Then, the line that defines the upper figure thins and almost disappears, giving it a sense of lightness. I’m reminded of Degas and Toulouse-Lautrec, the way they captured movement and fleeting moments. Like them, Israels wasn’t trying to give us a perfect picture. Instead, he was interested in the gesture, the feeling, the process of seeing and recording. It’s this openness to process that makes it so interesting, and it's what I love about drawing.