Twee zittende vrouwelijke naakten 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this drawing, 'Twee zittende vrouwelijke naakten', at some point in his life, using pencil on paper. I'm struck by how immediate the marks are, the lines are quick and sure, like he’s trying to capture a fleeting moment. You get the sense of Israels really *looking*, not just recording what he sees, but feeling the weight and form of these figures. The texture of the paper comes through, it's raw, and the pencil lines vary in darkness, creating a sense of depth and shadow. Look at the way he's suggested the curve of the reclining woman’s back with just a few strokes, or the weight of her limbs with some shading. It’s economical, but so effective. It reminds me of some of Degas' sketches, where he's working through ideas and trying to pin down the essence of a pose or a gesture. It's like we're seeing the artist’s thought process right there on the page, this ongoing dialogue between observation and expression. And isn't that what art’s all about?