Mannenhoofd 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this drawing of a man's head, with what looks like a graphite stick on paper. You know, sometimes the quickest sketches can tell you the most. There's something incredibly direct about the way these lines are put down. It’s like he’s trying to capture the essence of a person with just a few gestures. Look at the angles that suggest the brow and cheekbone, or the single stroke defining the mouth. It's like he’s not trying to be precise, but instead, trying to give you a feeling. It makes me think of Cy Twombly, the way he could suggest so much with so little. Both artists remind us that drawing isn't just about what you see, but also about what you feel and how you translate that onto the page. It is a way of thinking. And a way of seeing.