Twee staande figuren, mogelijk een man en een vrouw 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this drawing of two standing figures, possibly a man and a woman, on paper. It's all about the line here; the way Israels uses it to suggest form is fascinating. The lines are quick, economical, almost like shorthand. I love the texture of the paper, it allows the pencil to skip and catch, creating a lively surface. The marks are both precise and tentative. Look at the way he suggests the folds of the clothing with just a few strokes, it’s like he's thinking aloud with his pencil. This piece reminds me of some of Manet's sketches, where he's just trying to capture the essence of a figure with a few deft strokes, embracing ambiguity, allowing the viewer to fill in the blanks.