Annotaties c. 1919

This is Annotaties, made by Isaac Israels, we don’t know when or with what exactly. The surface is covered in scribbles and annotations. The writing is faded in some parts, suggesting a slower, more deliberate pace. I wonder, what was Israels thinking about when he made this? There's something immediate and vulnerable about the handwritten notes. The artist lets us into the raw, unfiltered processes of thinking through making and doing. It's as if we've stumbled upon a page torn from their diary or sketchbook. It reminds me of Cy Twombly’s work. A combination of formal, technical notes, and personal thoughts are made public. This piece invites us to consider the act of mark-making as a form of conversation, both with oneself and with the world. In this dialogue, the artist communicates, and the viewer responds, continuing a chain of creation and interpretation that extends beyond the artwork itself.