Staande vrouw voor een spiegel 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this sketch of a standing woman in front of a mirror with pen and ink on paper. Israels is playing with line here, with the thickness and direction of the marks creating shade and definition. You can really get a sense of the artist working quickly, trying to capture the essence of the scene. It’s all about process, and I love seeing that laid bare. On the left-hand side, notice the dense, almost scribbled lines forming the figure and the surrounding space; then compare that to the very light, almost hesitant lines on the right. The contrast is striking, like two different approaches existing on the same plane. That dark patch at the bottom left—is it shadow, or a deliberate disruption of the composition? It’s these little moments of ambiguity that really draw me in. Looking at this piece reminds me of the fragmented figures of Francis Picabia. Both artists share a willingness to embrace imperfection. It makes me think about how art is as much about what you leave out as what you put in.