Reclining Female Nude c. 1915s - 1925s

Isaac Israels made this drawing of a nude, probably on paper, with graphite. You can see how the artist used the pencil, figuring things out, correcting lines, and suggesting the shape of the body. Israels probably had a model posing in the studio, and he was trying to capture the way the light fell on her form. I can feel the artist considering how to represent her body, how to bring it to life on the page. I can see the quick, light strokes and the smudging of the pencil, creating soft shadows. It reminds me of other life drawings by artists like Degas or Renoir, who were also interested in capturing the fleeting moments of everyday life. Drawing is like a conversation. It allows for an ongoing process of exchange and learning. Each artist builds on the work of those who came before, exploring new possibilities and ways of seeing the world.