Annotaties 1875 - 1934

This page of annotations was made by Isaac Israels, though I can’t tell you exactly when or with what. It seems as if the artist was interested in the relationship between the hand and the eye and in artmaking as a process. The material qualities here—the color and texture of the page—emphasize the connection between the physical act of writing or drawing and the conceptual exploration of ideas. I find myself drawn to the inscription on the upper right of the page, the word “leermate” or “colleague” as it might translate, which is crossed out, as if the artist were in dialogue with himself, engaging in a back-and-forth process of questioning and discovery. The sense of art as an ongoing conversation resonates throughout Israels’ work, echoing the visual language of artists like Kees van Dongen, with its focus on capturing fleeting moments and ephemeral experiences. Ultimately, the annotations embrace ambiguity, inviting viewers to participate in the exchange of ideas across time.