Isabel Bishop Early Sketchbook c. 1928 - 1936

This early sketchbook by Isabel Bishop looks like she made it with graphite, capturing fleeting observations and figures. Bishop’s got a knack for quick, confident lines. I imagine her, sketchbook in hand, maybe on a park bench, just letting her eye wander and capturing little moments. See how she's playing with space and form? It feels like she’s not trying to nail anything down perfectly but is exploring possibilities. What was it like for her to be a woman artist at that time? She has a way of abstracting, letting the essence of a scene or figure emerge. I especially love how Bishop's sketches convey a sense of movement, of life unfolding, and you can sense she is looking at all the right sources to create something new. You can see the conversation with other artists too - like Degas. It’s like they are all bouncing ideas off each other across time. It’s like she's saying, "Here’s my take."