Zittende figuren 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this pencil sketch, "Zittende figuren," sometime between the late 19th and early 20th century. I really like the way Israels has captured the figures in this sketch. It makes me think about the process of looking, observing, and then translating that into marks on paper. I imagine him, squinting slightly, his hand moving quickly and deliberately, trying to capture the essence of the pose. There’s a sense of immediacy and intimacy, as if we’re catching a glimpse of a private moment. You see it in the confident lines that define the forms, the subtle shading that gives volume and depth. It reminds me that drawing, like painting, is a form of conversation—a dialogue between the artist, the subject, and the medium. It’s a process of inquiry, of trying to understand and express something about the world, and that's inspiring.