Man met snor 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this drawing, "Man met snor", with what looks like charcoal on paper, and the date is unknown. Isn't it interesting how Israels uses these smudgy, almost violent strokes to create form? It's all about process, about the energy of mark-making. You can almost feel the artist's hand moving across the page, pushing and pulling at the charcoal. The texture of the paper plays a big part, doesn't it? Look closely at the shading around the man's head. See how the charcoal is applied in layers, creating a sense of depth and volume? It's like Israels is sculpting with light and shadow, revealing the underlying structure of the face. There's a sense of immediacy here, a directness that's really appealing. Israels reminds me a little of Van Gogh who was interested in modern life, so capturing the energy of a particular time and place, too. Art is just a conversation, isn't it?