Staande figuur 1875 - 1934

This work on paper, Staande Figuur, was sketched by Isaac Israels. It has a tentative, searching quality. You can feel Israels' hand moving across the surface, mapping out the figure, one line at a time. I wonder what he was thinking as he put this down. The marks have a wandering, searching quality, as if he’s not quite sure where he wants to land, allowing the figure to emerge slowly. The charcoal seems to grab at the paper, doesn't it? See how it's darker in some areas, lighter in others. This variation gives the figure volume and depth. Look at the long, vertical mark that runs down the center of the figure – it anchors the whole composition. Israels' sketch reminds me that drawing and painting isn't about perfection, it’s about the ongoing conversation we have with the world around us. It’s about trying to find form in chaos, and beauty in the everyday.