Liggend vrouwelijk naakt, mogelijk Alida c. 1890 - 1920

This drawing of a reclining nude, possibly Alida, was made by Isaac Israels, though we don't know exactly when. Look at the way he works the charcoal, using smudges and soft lines to define the figure. You get the sense that he's not so interested in perfecting the details, but more in capturing a feeling, an impression of the body. It’s almost as if he’s trying to draw the light itself. The charcoal marks are thin in some places, like around her legs, and thicker in others, like in the rendering of her face. See how the pressure of the tool varies? It’s like he’s dancing with the charcoal, letting the material guide him. The rough, unfinished quality of the drawing reminds me of the work of Eugène Delacroix; both artists share a certain freedom and expressiveness in their approach to line and form. This is a piece that celebrates process over product, embracing the beauty of the incomplete.