Staande vrouw, in profiel 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this drawing of a standing woman with graphite on paper. You can imagine him quickly capturing the essence of the figure with just a few strokes. Look at the way he suggests the form of the dress with long, sweeping lines. I wonder what Israels was thinking about as he drew her. Was he interested in her posture, or the way the light fell on her dress? The marks are so sparse and economical, almost like a code for the form. It's like he is trying to find the most minimal way to describe this woman, to get to the essence of her presence. This reminds me of other artists who use drawing as a way to explore form and movement, like Degas or Matisse. There's a conversation happening across time, with each artist building on what came before. Each is finding their own way to capture the world with marks on paper. The act of drawing is a journey of discovery.