Twee studies van een liggend vrouwelijk naakt c. 1890 - 1920

Isaac Israels made these two studies of a reclining nude in pencil, and it’s all about the line. The way it loops and hesitates, then defines an edge or suggests a shadow. Look how the hatching around the torso creates a sense of volume, and how the artist leaves the background untouched, letting the figure emerge from the blank paper. It's all about that process of searching, of trying to capture the essence of the figure with a few well-placed marks. There's a wonderful economy to it, a sense of the artist working quickly, trying to capture a fleeting impression, like a Degas pastel. The lines around the figure’s face are smudged and soft, and then compare that to the sharp, almost jagged lines around the body. It's a beautiful example of how a drawing can be both precise and expressive, capturing the artist's eye and hand in perfect harmony. It reminds me of the drawings of Käthe Kollwitz, in its raw emotion and its focus on the human form. It’s less about a definitive statement, and more about an ongoing conversation, an exploration of form and feeling.