Portret van Nehemia de Lieme c. 1925s

Here, Isaac Israels gives us a peek into his process with this portrait of Nehemia de Lieme, drawn with pencil on paper. It’s like catching the artist in mid-thought, lines searching and feeling their way around the subject. Israels's mark-making feels so direct, almost like he’s thinking out loud with his pencil. The lines are wiry and quick, especially in the hatching that describes the jacket. They don’t belabor any one area but keep moving, giving the whole thing a lively, provisional feel. It’s interesting how he uses these lines to create form and shadow, without ever fully closing in on a contour. Look at the face – the eyes are just hints, and the mouth is barely there, yet somehow, they convey a sense of the sitter's presence. This work reminds me a little of Manet, someone else who wasn't afraid to leave things unresolved. Art isn’t about answers; it’s about questions, and Israels certainly leaves us with plenty to ponder.