Staande jonge man 1875 - 1934

This drawing of a young man was made by Isaac Israels at some point in his career. Look at the quickly drawn lines which dart across the paper, capturing a fleeting impression with such ease. The artist's hand seems to move effortlessly, almost as if dancing across the page. I imagine Israels observing this figure, maybe in a cafe or public space, quickly trying to distill the essence of the pose onto the paper. What was the young man thinking? Was he tired, bored, lost in thought? The sketch doesn't reveal the whole story, but it gives us a starting point. I know that feeling, the desire to quickly capture a feeling or figure. The lack of detail encourages us to project our own ideas onto the figure. Drawing is like a conversation between the artist and the subject and, ultimately, the viewer. Israels invites us to participate in this exchange, to bring our own experiences and perspectives to the work. The way he has captured a certain mood is so evocative.