Dienstmeid met een kind op de arm c. 1886 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this drawing of a maid with a child in her arms, location and date unknown, probably in a sketchbook with charcoal. The marks are so economical, aren’t they? You can almost see him making each one, deciding where a line should go, then moving on. There’s a real sense of intimacy in the drawing, despite it being so quick. Israels hasn't laboured over the details; instead, he has focused on capturing the overall form and gestures of his subjects. The charcoal has a dry, crumbly texture, with soft edges. See how it catches the light and creates depth? The maid’s face is subtly rendered, with just a few strokes to suggest her expression. There’s a sensitivity and humanity there. Israels reminds me of Degas, who similarly made many drawings of dancers, each time searching for the perfect line. In both artists’ work, we get a sense of art as an ongoing process of experimentation and discovery.