Vrouw, ten halven lijve c. 1915s - 1925s

Isaac Israels made this sketch of a woman in his sketchbook, likely with graphite. There’s a nervous energy to these lines, aren’t they great? The artist seems less concerned with capturing a likeness and more interested in the act of drawing itself. You can almost see Israels’ hand moving across the page, feeling out the forms. I love the way he uses hatching to create shadows, especially around the woman’s face and hair. The texture is so immediate, so present. It’s like you’re right there in the room with the artist, watching the sketch unfold. Notice how the lines vary in thickness and pressure, giving the drawing a real sense of depth and dimension. Look at those eyes, they’re just a few scribbled lines, but they convey so much. It reminds me a little of Manet's quick, impressionistic portraits. Ultimately, this sketch embodies the idea that art is a conversation, always evolving and questioning.