Figuurstudie, mogelijk een vrouw 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this charcoal sketch, titled 'Figure study, possibly a woman', sometime between the late 19th and early 20th century. Can you imagine him, rapidly drawing with a stick of charcoal to capture the essence of his subject? It's all about the power of suggestion, isn't it? Quick marks delineate the body of a woman with a hat, capturing a sense of movement and form. A denser patch suggests the head and hat, while a tangle of lines towards the bottom could be legs, or perhaps some discarded clothing. There is a lovely quality in the ambiguity. It reminds me of Manet, and the way he was able to capture a world in fleeting impressions. Israels’ sketchy style invites us to consider the preliminary stages of art-making. It acknowledges that the art of painting emerges through a process of constant questioning, and the interplay of intention and chance.