Staande vrouwen 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this sketch of standing women with graphite on paper, and it looks like he was working fast, trying to catch a fleeting impression. The marks are almost like shorthand. I love how Israels isn't precious with his marks; it’s all about the immediacy of the gesture. Look at the way he suggests the form of the women's bodies with just a few, quick lines. The smudges and erasures are all part of the process, and they give the drawing a kind of raw energy. Notice the confident strokes that define the heads and hats, contrasting with the more tentative lines that suggest the bodies. It is like Israels is thinking through the act of drawing. It reminds me of sketches by Degas, where the process is laid bare. It is a reminder that art isn't about perfection, but about the ongoing conversation between the artist, the subject, and the materials.