Staande man, in profiel 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels created this drawing, "Standing Man, in Profile," with graphite on paper. There’s something so direct about this sketch – like he's trying to capture a fleeting impression. See how the lines are so spare? They suggest the figure’s posture and the set of his jaw, but it feels more like a notation. I think this drawing is about seeing, about trying to pin down a feeling more than an identity. Israels is one of those artists who make you think, "Oh, I can do that!" But then you try, and it's never quite as alive as his work. It reminds me of those moments in painting when you're not quite sure where you're going, but you trust the process. You make a mark, and it leads to another, and before you know it, something interesting emerges. Israels probably did lots of these sketches. Each one informed the next, and it's all part of this long conversation that artists have been having for centuries.