Figuren in badkleding, op de rug gezien 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this quick graphite sketch of bathers on lined paper. You can feel the immediacy in the marks; the artist is figuring out the scene, almost as a memory aid. It’s a snapshot of a day at the beach, not trying to be complete. The lines are so light, almost transparent. See how he captures the shadow beneath the figure in the middle? It’s a small scribble, but it roots the figure in space, even though the background is barely suggested. There’s something lovely in how casual it is; it’s more about capturing a feeling than a likeness. Looking at this, I’m reminded of other artists who’ve worked in sketchbooks, like Degas or even Cy Twombly. It’s this idea of art as a process, an ongoing exploration, not a finished product. These sketches invite us into the artist’s world, a world of open-ended questions, not definitive statements.