Figuurstudies 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this drawing, Figuurstudies, with a graphite pencil on paper. Isn’t it interesting how a simple line can suggest so much? Look at the scribbled lines, how they catch the light and shadow, implying form with such economy. It’s like Israels is thinking through the pencil, letting the marks accumulate, one on top of the other, until a figure emerges. The bottom sketch is more concentrated, there is a darker, smudged mass of graphite, but even here, the lines feel exploratory, like the artist is trying to find the figure within the marks themselves. This reminds me of drawings by Degas, where the energy and the process of searching becomes part of the image. Drawing isn't just about what you see; it’s about how you see and how you bring that to life on paper. It’s about the act of looking and responding, a dance between eye, hand, and mind.