Zittende figuren c. 1886 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this sketch with broad strokes of crayon on paper. Look at the way the figures are rendered with such speed. You know, as a painter, when I see this, I imagine Israels quickly capturing a scene, maybe in a cafe or a park. Look at the confidence in those lines! See how the weight of the crayon varies, creating depth and shadow with so little? It’s almost like a shorthand, a visual note jotted down to remember a moment. That scribble on the right page? Maybe a failed attempt, or just a place to test the crayon. It’s like we’re seeing the artist thinking, deciding, and moving on. It reminds me that artists are always in conversation with one another, borrowing ideas, and pushing boundaries. There is no one way to read the drawing; instead, it’s a place of possibilities.