Zittende vrouw met hoed, in profiel 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels sketched this ‘Zittende vrouw met hoed, in profiel’ with graphite on paper; look at the freedom of the marks, like he's just letting his hand run wild, thinking through the shapes. The texture of the paper grabs the graphite, leaving a trail of grey that builds up to define the sitter’s form. See how the lines are sketchy, like a map of the artist's thoughts? The surface is raw, immediate – you can almost feel the artist's hand moving across the page. I love how Israels suggests the hat with just a few scribbled lines, leaving much to our imagination. That mess of lines at the front of her chest, that’s where the real magic happens, a blur of activity which creates a sense of depth. Israels reminds me of Degas, both artists exploring the immediacy of observation and the beauty of the everyday. In both artists work there is a sense that art isn't about perfection, but about capturing a fleeting moment, an ongoing conversation with the world.