Liggende naakte vrouw c. 1915s - 1925s

Isaac Israels made this drawing of a reclining nude woman with graphite on paper. It’s all about mark-making here, the way the pencil moves so freely and quickly to give us the feeling of a body at rest. I am drawn to the density of marks around her face, creating dark shadows that contrast with the minimal lines used for her limbs. There’s a real sense of immediacy, like Israels was trying to capture a fleeting moment. It’s not about perfection or detail, but about the process of seeing and translating that vision onto paper. I think about other artists interested in the figure, like Egon Schiele. Both artists use line to explore form and emotion, but Israels has a lighter, more casual touch. It feels like a conversation across time, each artist adding their unique voice to the ongoing exploration of the human form. Art is always a remix.