Schetsboek XXVII met 8 bladen 1875 - 1934

This is Isaac Israels’ sketchbook, made with eight leaves, its dimensions are approximately 207 by 247 mm. The cover has a disarming directness, a kind of quiet resistance to being anything other than what it is. Israels has scrawled on it, his notations and sketches are like whispers, as if he is reluctant to disturb the surface. There's something about the way the cover bears the marks of time, the smudges and stains, that feels deeply human. This feels like an early example of process-based art, where the emphasis shifts from the finished product to the artistic journey itself. You can imagine Israels carrying this sketchbook around, ready to capture a fleeting moment. It reminds me a little of Cy Twombly’s sketchbooks, which are less about polished perfection and more about the raw energy of the creative act. It’s this openness to imperfection, this embrace of the incomplete, that makes Israels' work so compelling. It shows that art is not just about the final outcome but about the dialogue between the artist and the world.