Staande vrouw met gekruiste benen 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this drawing of a standing woman with crossed legs with pencil on paper, and it's now here at the Rijksmuseum. You know, it's funny how a few quick lines can suggest so much. Israels really gets down to basics here, capturing just the essence of the figure. Look at those bold, confident strokes—they’re not trying to be perfect, just present. It’s like he’s thinking aloud with his pencil, letting the marks flow and find their own way. I am drawn to the areas where the lines are almost scribbled and reworked. It makes me think of the artist circling around his subject, finding it in the fog. You can sense the energy of the moment, like he’s chasing after a fleeting impression. And it makes you wonder: What else was going on in the studio when Israels made this sketch? Was he listening to music? Was the model chatting away? It is a very modern and loose drawing, which in places is reminiscent of some of Degas' work. Ultimately, art is about conversations and the ongoing exchange of ideas. There are no fixed meanings, just possibilities.