Tubaspeler 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this sketch of a tuba player with what looks like just a few strokes of ink on paper. The speed of the marks suggests he’s trying to capture a fleeting moment, maybe in a cafe or park. What I love about drawings like this is the economy of means. Israels isn't trying to give us all the details, just the essential forms and gestures. Look at how he suggests the bulk of the tuba with these looping lines, and then the sharp angles that imply the musician’s posture. It's all about implication and suggestion, leaving space for our imagination to fill in the blanks. This reminds me a little of Daumier, who also had this incredible ability to capture the essence of a figure with just a few lines. Ultimately, art is about seeing and feeling, and Israels invites us into that process with this beautifully simple drawing.