Reclining Female Nude 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this drawing of a reclining nude using what looks like charcoal or graphite. The quick, gestural marks give it a real sense of immediacy, as if we're catching a glimpse of a private moment. I can imagine Israels working rapidly, trying to capture the fleeting pose and the play of light and shadow on the figure. What was he thinking as he made the marks? Was he absorbed in the pure physicality of the body, or was he also trying to convey something about her inner state? The texture is created by the varying pressure of the marks - light and feathery in some areas, dark and dense in others. A single stroke can communicate so much, a feeling, an intention, a meaning. It reminds me of the work of other artists, like Degas, who were also interested in capturing the human form in motion. I imagine artists are in an ongoing conversation. Painting is a form of expression, allowing multiple interpretations and meanings.