Vrouw met parasol op het strand, in profiel 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this drawing of a woman with a parasol on the beach, with graphite on paper. Look at the frenetic strokes, the erasures, and the layers of lines – you can feel the artist circling his subject, searching for the right form. It’s like he’s building up the image bit by bit, almost caressing the paper. I can imagine Israels out on the beach, quickly trying to capture the light and the woman, with her complicated dress, and the way the air feels! The heavy shading on the left gives way to a much lighter treatment, with plenty of untouched paper, almost as if he felt like he was losing focus as he went. I feel that, you know? Starting out strong, then letting the idea drift as you go. It’s as if the drawing comes to life in the moment, and it's this raw immediacy that connects us to the artist, the sitter and their shared experience on the beach.