Twee figuurstudies 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this sketch of two figures, probably in his sketchbook, where he worked out ideas on paper. Look at how he's captured the essence of these figures with just a few lines; it's all about the gesture. This kind of raw, direct mark-making is what really interests me. What strikes me about this work is its simplicity. The paper's texture is visible, and the pencil lines are direct, without fuss. It's like seeing the artist's thought process in real time. Notice how the sketchy lines create volume and movement. There is a real intimacy to the figures, caught so quickly. You can almost feel the speed of the hand that made these marks. Israels' approach reminds me a little of Degas, who was also interested in capturing figures in motion with quick, expressive lines. What connects them for me is this shared belief in the power of a simple gesture to tell a whole story.