Saxofonist c. 1915s - 1925s

Isaac Israels made this drawing of a Saxofonist with a pencil, somewhere, sometime. Look at how the diagonal hatching creates a sense of depth and shadow, almost like a stage set for the musician. It’s all about the process, the fleeting moment captured in a flurry of lines. The texture of the paper comes through, those quick strokes building up the form, the sound, the very air around the figure. See how the lines around the head are lighter, more tentative, while the lines around the body are darker, more defined. It’s like he’s trying to nail down the essence of the pose, the energy of the performance. That dark, scribbled area behind the figure? It’s the music, the atmosphere, the vibe. Israels reminds me of Degas in his ability to capture movement and mood with such simple means. It's not about perfection, it’s about the feeling, the experience, the messy, beautiful reality of artmaking.