Seated Female Nude 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this drawing, Seated Female Nude, with pencil on paper. I love the casualness of the pose, the way the lines just barely suggest the form. It’s like catching a glimpse, not posing for posterity. The paper itself plays a big role here, doesn't it? The pale tan becomes the skin tone, the ground. Israels uses the pencil so economically, confident with each stroke. Look at the shading on her chest, just a few scribbled lines, repeated between her legs and at her hairline. It's like he's saying, "Okay, you get the idea?" Israels was part of the Amsterdam Impressionism movement and you can see how this sketch carries that light touch, the desire to capture a fleeting impression. It reminds me of Degas, especially his pastels, always circling around the figure, never quite pinning it down.