Abklatsch van een krijttekening c. 1886 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this chalk drawing called 'Abklatsch van een krijttekening,' which translates to 'Rubbing of a Chalk Drawing,' and it is held at the Rijksmuseum. Look at the pressure of the artist's hand on the paper! You can almost feel Israels figuring out where to put the figure, rubbing it in, taking it away, and leaving the trace of these actions behind. Did Israels plan for the figure to emerge from the void? It’s interesting to think about the making process here. I like the title; it’s got me imagining how an artist might make multiple versions of the same image by rubbing chalk on different surfaces. Israels is playing with the ephemeral nature of the medium, leaving traces and echoes of the original drawing. The smudged lines around the figure give it a sense of movement, like a ghost captured in chalk. I can imagine him experimenting with the possibilities of chalk, pushing the boundaries. It’s a beautiful, understated piece that invites you to reflect on the artistic process.