Figuurstudies 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this study of figures with pencil on paper. Look at the subtle, almost ghostly quality of the marks, how they seem to emerge and disappear. You can imagine Israels quickly capturing the essence of the figures, maybe in a cafe, or on the street. I always try to remember that artists are people trying to work something out, it takes guts to put marks on paper, to let the hand take you somewhere you don’t know. I sympathize with the artist, trying to wrangle an image, coaxing form out of the void. The texture of the paper shows through the drawing, creating a kind of shimmering effect, a sense of light and air. See how a few dark lines define the figures on the right. It’s like a shorthand for seeing. Israels' drawing is a reminder that artists are in an ongoing conversation across time, inspiring each other to see and express the world in new ways. Drawing embraces ambiguity, allowing for multiple interpretations.