Zittende man met pet 1875 - 1934

Here's a sketch by Isaac Israels, held at the Rijksmuseum, which looks like it’s been rendered in charcoal or soft graphite. Look at the energy in each line; Israels is not fussing with detail, but rather trying to capture the posture and mood of the sitter. I wonder, what was Israels thinking as he laid down each mark? Was he trying to get the essence of this figure quickly? The overall effect is kind of casual, like a snapshot. The artist is making decisions about where to put the emphasis. The way the strokes are so free and unlabored makes me think of other artists like Degas and Manet. Ultimately, mark-making is like a conversation between artists across time, with each learning from the other. Israels' sketch embraces the beauty of imperfection. It is suggestive, allowing our imagination to fill in the gaps.