Figuurstudies, mogelijk figuren in badkleding 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made these figure studies, possibly figures in bathing suits, with graphite on paper, and they now reside in the Rijksmuseum. You know, sometimes the most interesting art happens in the sketchbook. Look at the way Israels uses line here; it's all about capturing movement, a real sense of figures caught in a moment. You can almost feel the energy of the beach. There's one figure especially, near the bottom – just a few quick strokes, but you get the whole body, the pose, everything. It reminds me of those Degas drawings, where he’s just nailing the gesture of a dancer. What I love about sketches like this is the immediacy. It’s like you’re seeing the artist think, watching their ideas unfold right there on the page. It’s rough, it’s raw, and it’s totally honest.