Zittende vrouw met een hand achter haar hoofd 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this drawing with pencil, probably in a sketchbook, capturing a seated woman with her hand behind her head. I love to imagine the artist quickly sketching, trying to capture a likeness or a feeling, following the thought with the hand, making marks, then maybe stopping, then starting up again… What was he thinking as he worked? Was the model moving? Did they talk? It feels so intimate, doesn’t it? Look at those scribbled lines which form the woman’s dress. Such a simple gesture conveys so much information. It reminds me of other artists who explore similar themes of intimacy and immediacy, like Degas with his dancers or Bonnard with his interiors. Ultimately, artists are constantly speaking to each other, responding and challenging one another across time. Each mark on the page is a record of this exchange, isn't it?