Drie zittende figuren c. 1915s - 1925s

Isaac Israels sketched "Drie zittende figuren" with pencil, possibly in a notebook. The hurried lines create a sense of figures captured in a fleeting moment. The texture of the paper is almost as prominent as the sketch itself, giving it an intimate, immediate feel, like a note-to-self. Look at the way Israels suggests form with just a few strokes, so economical, especially around the figures’ heads and shoulders. The negative space becomes just as important, defining the figures as much as the lines do. This sketch reminds me a bit of Degas' quick studies of dancers; that same interest in capturing movement and form with minimal effort. It’s like peeking into the artist’s mind, seeing the world through his eyes in real-time. It’s these kinds of works that remind us that art is as much about the process as it is about the final product.