Gymnastiekend vrouwelijk naakt c. 1915s - 1925s

This pen and ink drawing of a female nude, captured by Isaac Israels, is all about the process, you can tell by how the body seems to emerge from the page. There’s something so raw and immediate about the marks here, like Israels was chasing after the figure. The lines are quick, searching, not fussy, more about energy than perfection. The hand and feet area are just bundles of lines that manage to suggest form. The rest of the body is beautifully rendered, full of life. It reminds me of Degas and his interest in capturing fleeting moments. But unlike Degas, who often refined his drawings, Israels leaves it all on the page, embracing the beauty of the unfinished and the power of suggestion. It’s a reminder that art is not always about answers but about asking the right questions.