Abklatsch van de krijttekening op blad 23 verso 1875 - 1934

Editor: This intriguing piece is called "Abklatsch van de krijttekening op blad 23 verso," which I understand translates to something like "rubbing of a chalk drawing on sheet 23 verso," created by Isaac Israels sometime between 1875 and 1934. It's a pencil drawing on paper. To me, it feels… unfinished, a fleeting thought captured on paper. What do you see in this work? Curator: Unfinished, yes, that’s a wonderful way to put it. It’s like catching a glimpse of something ephemeral, a half-remembered dream clinging to the morning light. For me, these “rubbings,” these transfer drawings, speak to the nature of memory itself. It's a second-hand image of a pre-existing chalk drawing, rendered with pencil on paper, carrying this sense of distance. Do you find any distinct forms in it? Editor: I can almost make out shapes, maybe architectural forms, but it is vague, and a little hazy, like they’re hidden within a mist. It reminds me a little of Turner's seascapes. Curator: Turner! A grand comparison to make! I wonder, can we perceive that similarity, or perhaps the very impulse to perceive such forms *is* the drawing itself? This hazy vagueness almost compels the viewer to become complicit in its creation. You add your personal impressions in the creative process, which the artist perhaps purposefully omitted! Editor: So it’s more about the suggestion of something than the thing itself? That’s interesting! I originally thought of it as incomplete, but now I see the "incompleteness" might be its intention. Curator: Precisely! And there is something very brave about leaving things unsaid. It invites contemplation. This drawing whispers; it does not shout! Editor: It has really opened my eyes on the possibilities and nuances contained in sketches, even those that seem ‘unfinished’ at first sight. Curator: I find that it's not about how far you travel with the artwork; it's that first step off the dock that really makes all the difference. And what a journey this piece has set us both upon.