Zittende en staande figuren 1921 - 1922

Isaac Israels made this drawing, 'Zittende en staande figuren' using graphite on paper. It’s all about the immediacy of mark-making. Look at how the lines build up, almost like a sculptor working with clay, finding the form through a process of addition and refinement. The texture here is crucial; the paper's grain interacts with the graphite, creating a subtly uneven surface that vibrates with energy. Notice the dense hatching around the figure's face, a concentrated area of darkness that contrasts with the lighter, more open lines describing the body and clothing. It’s like Israels is wrestling with the image, trying to pin it down, but also allowing it to breathe, to remain open and unresolved. That heavy shading makes me think of charcoal drawings by Käthe Kollwitz. Drawings like this remind us that art is not just about the finished product, but about the process of seeing, thinking, and feeling.