Staande figuur voor een trommelende muzikant 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this rapid sketch of a figure before a drummer, using graphite on paper. I can almost feel the artist’s hand moving quickly, trying to catch the essence of the pose, the rhythm of the music. The lines are so direct, so economical. You can sense Israels making decisions about what is essential. Notice how the marks convey volume and movement without shading or detail. The skirt of the figure is all straight lines, and somehow, they suggest roundness! I wonder if Israels was listening to the music himself while sketching? Did the tempo or beat of the music influence the speed of his mark-making? I am reminded of other artists, like Degas, capturing dancers in motion. It’s like they’re all in conversation across time, each finding their own way to express the vitality of life through drawing. Drawing like this helps you to see the world differently.