Man in oosterse kledij voor een olifant 1875 - 1934

This sketch of a man in eastern dress before an elephant was made by Isaac Israels, though when or with what isn't known. Look at these lines! They’re all about the process. Israels isn't precious here. He’s thinking out loud with charcoal or pencil, figuring out the shapes as he goes. The marks are incredibly physical, you can almost feel the speed of his hand. See how the shading is so dense, like scribbled energy? This is where Israels works the surface, using these bold lines to suggest form, light, and shadow. It’s like he’s wrestling with the image. I love the way he captures the folds of fabric and the man’s headwear, all with just a few strokes. It's almost like he is saying that art is all about the doing, not the perfect rendering. Israels reminds me of Degas, both capturing fleeting moments. Art isn't about answers, it's about the questions we ask.