Reclining Female Nude 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this drawing, Reclining Female Nude, with graphite on paper. It’s just lines, really. I bet he worked fast! I can imagine him with his sketchbook, thinking about line and shadow, pushing the pencil across the page and creating the figure so simply! I bet he had to work fast to catch her essence and pose. The head is the most developed part of the drawing – look at the face and her hair. What does she think about as she reclines? I wonder how long she had to hold that pose. And was she bored? Artists are always in conversation, aren’t they? Even though we’re all alone in our studios, we’re actually chatting with each other all the time through our paintings. It’s like a big, ongoing, visual party. And, as a painter, drawing like this reminds me of how we use lines and form to express ourselves. It reminds me that painting is about constant exploration, trying new things, and keeping the conversation going.