Staande figuren 1875 - 1934

This is a sheet of studies of standing figures by Isaac Israels. It was made with graphite on paper and it's all about process. Look at how Israels renders these figures with such simple, gestural strokes. The figures almost seem to emerge from the page, as if he's capturing a fleeting moment or an impression. The marks are light and airy, yet they convey a sense of volume and form. You can almost feel the artist's hand moving across the paper, searching for the essence of each figure. And what about those little blue marks at the bottom? Maybe a splash of ink or paint – or some other mysterious addition. It's like Israels is leaving a little trace of himself on the page, reminding us that art-making is a messy, unpredictable, and deeply personal process. This reminds me of Manet, who also managed to capture those everyday moments in all of their fleeting glory. It's that sense of capturing a moment, of seeing something real, that really gets me going.