Portret van een onbekende man met hoed, in profiel c. 1915s - 1925s

Isaac Israels made this drawing of an unknown man with a hat, in profile, with graphite on paper. The scribbled quality reminds me that drawing is about finding something, more than knowing it in advance. I love the way Israels builds up the form with these incredibly direct, almost impatient marks. See how the lines around the hat are repeated, like he’s searching for the perfect curve, or maybe capturing a sense of movement. The texture feels almost tactile. You can practically feel the give of the pencil on the paper. The lines around the face are more tentative, as if the artist is feeling his way into the subject’s character. It’s like watching someone think on paper. This drawing feels related to the quick, gestural work of someone like Manet. They both understood that art is about the process, the journey, not just the destination. And that’s what makes it so exciting, isn’t it?