Staande figuren 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this drawing, Staande figuren, with pen on paper. Isn’t it great? I mean, it's just a quick sketch, but it has a real sense of movement. The lines are so simple and direct, they remind me of Matisse. You can almost feel Israels’ hand moving across the page, trying to capture the essence of these figures. Look at the way he uses line to suggest form and space. The figures are barely there, but they have a real presence. And the little details, like the way he suggests the folds of the fabric, are just perfect. For me, the beauty of this piece lies in its simplicity and directness. It's not about perfection, it's about capturing a feeling, a moment in time. It’s about the sheer joy of mark-making.