Portret van een onbekende vrouw, ten halven lijve c. 1915s - 1925s

Isaac Israels made this sketch of an unknown woman at an unknown date with graphite on paper. It’s all hatching and cross-hatching, these lines that build up the form from dark to light. I can imagine Israels in his studio, quickly capturing the essence of his sitter with confident strokes, trying to quickly capture the light. The marks are like whispers, barely there, but they define the shapes and suggest shadows. Israels was part of a movement interested in depicting everyday life, and you can see that sensibility here. It reminds me of other artists who used drawing as a tool for observation and exploration. The sketch is not about perfection but about capturing a fleeting moment, an impression. I love how artists talk to each other across time, inspiring new ways of seeing and thinking! It's a conversation that never ends.