Isabel Bishop Early Sketchbook c. 1928 - 1936

This is a page of quick sketches from an early sketchbook by the American artist Isabel Bishop. Bishop is known for her images of working women in New York during the interwar period. Here, we see her beginning to develop the motifs and style that would make her famous. The sketches are loosely drawn, with a sense of movement and spontaneity. This reflects the influence of the Ashcan School, a group of early 20th-century American artists who sought to capture the energy and dynamism of urban life, and the impact of photography on art practices at the time. The Ashcan School challenged the traditional art establishment by focusing on everyday subjects and ordinary people. Bishop's sketchbook reveals her engagement with these social and artistic currents. To understand Bishop's art, we can consult her diaries and letters, as well as the writings of art critics and social historians. Through this kind of research, we can appreciate Bishop's contribution to the representation of women and the changing social landscape of her time.