Staande vrouw met opgeheven arm c. 1915s - 1925s

This sketch, Staande vrouw met opgeheven arm, was made by Isaac Israels with pencil on paper. It's interesting how the artist is exploring movement with a few, simple lines. Look at the woman's raised arm, isn't it kind of thrilling? The lines are so spare, but they totally capture the gesture. It's like Israels is thinking out loud, trying to figure out the pose as he goes. The marks aren't precious; they're all about the process. You can almost feel his hand moving across the page, searching for the right angles and curves. I think about other artists who work this way, like Matisse. He would use line in a similarly economic way. It’s all about getting to the heart of the form with the least amount of fuss. This drawing reminds us that art is often about searching, experimenting, and embracing the beauty of imperfection.