Annotatie c. 1886 - 1934

This is a pencil drawing by Isaac Israels. Looking at the light touch of the pencil, it's clear that Israels wasn’t interested in making a slick, finished product. It's more like he was thinking through the image, letting the process guide him. There's a real intimacy to it. You can almost feel his hand moving across the paper, deciding what to emphasize and what to leave as a mere suggestion. Notice that vertical mark just left of center, it’s like a structural element holding the composition together, but at the same time, it's just a simple, unassuming mark. This piece reminds me a bit of sketches by Manet, who also had a knack for capturing the essence of a subject with just a few deft strokes. It's like they're both in on a secret, understanding that sometimes the most powerful statements are the ones left unsaid. It’s more about the feeling than the explanation.