Figuurstudies c. 1915s - 1925s

Isaac Israels made these figure studies, probably with graphite on paper, maybe thinking about Manet or Degas. Just guessing! Look at the quick, light marks he’s made. It’s like he’s trying to catch a glimpse of something fleeting. I wonder what Israels was thinking about? Maybe he was in a cafe, quickly sketching people as they moved past, just trying to catch the essence of a gesture, a posture. The lines are so sparse, so minimal, but they convey so much. I’m thinking about his hand moving across the paper, the pressure of the graphite leaving these delicate traces. It's like a dance, isn't it? There is something really intimate and personal in sketchbooks like these. It’s not about perfection or finish. It’s about exploration, about trying to understand and capture the world around you. Painters are always learning from each other, riffing on each other’s ideas. It's like we're all part of one big, ongoing conversation.