Zittende vrouw voor een spiegel c. 1915s - 1925s

Isaac Israels made this drawing of a woman sitting in front of a mirror with pencil on paper. The speed and lightness of the marks give the impression of a fleeting moment. Look at the hatching he uses to create shadow and depth. See how the density of the lines varies, creating a sense of volume and light? There's a looseness to the drawing, a sense of immediacy, like he's trying to capture the essence of the scene before it disappears. The table is defined by a few quick strokes, and the mirror itself is barely there, just a suggestion of vertical lines. Yet, it's all there, isn't it? Israels reminds me a little of Manet in his ability to capture the everyday with such casual elegance. Both artists seem to understand that art isn't about perfection; it's about capturing a feeling, a moment in time. And that's what makes art so endlessly fascinating, right?