Zittende vrouw met sigaret 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this drawing of a seated woman with a cigarette with pencil on paper. Look at the economy of line in this piece. It's just enough to give you the figure, the angle of the head, the sense of pose and personality. I bet Israels was really looking, trying to understand the form in front of him. There's a freshness to it. You can imagine the artist making small adjustments, searching for the right contour. I bet he was trying to find a likeness, that's what artists did back then! I wonder if he knew the sitter, or if she was a stranger. She seems quite relaxed and natural. It feels quite intimate actually, like we're getting a peek into a private moment. This drawing reminds me a little of Degas' drawings of dancers. Both artists are interested in capturing a sense of movement and spontaneity. It's like they're trying to capture a fleeting moment in time. The whole thing is great. It makes me want to grab a pencil and start drawing right now!