Zittende vrouw 1875 - 1934

This drawing of a seated woman was made by Isaac Israels; there's no date on it, but it feels like a quick study. Israels is working with charcoal, and it looks like he’s using the side of the stick to create those broad planes of tone, and sharper marks to define the figure. You can see how the texture of the paper is really important here, grabbing the charcoal in some places and letting it skip in others. It’s all about the push and pull, this dance between control and chance, which is at the heart of drawing. See how the lines around her body are light and searching, almost like he’s feeling his way around her form. But then, look at the head – it’s so much darker and more defined. That contrast really makes her presence pop off the page. This kind of directness reminds me of Manet, who also had a knack for capturing the essence of a subject with just a few strokes. Both artists are interested in this ongoing conversation of artmaking across time. It’s a reminder that art is never really finished.