Abklatsch van de krijttekening op blad 13 verso 1875 - 1934

This piece by Isaac Israels is at the Rijksmuseum and made with chalk. Looking at these subtle marks, I get the feeling it was probably a lithographic crayon used on transfer paper. I can imagine Isaac sketching away, trying to capture the essence of the scene before him. This drawing is so gentle, it’s almost like it emerged from the paper, not imposed on it. It reminds me of Cy Twombly's work in its quiet energy. These pale blue and gray lines suggest a sense of movement, like fleeting thoughts or memories. What was he thinking? Maybe he saw something out the corner of his eye? Sometimes, the most interesting things happen in those in-between moments. It’s like he’s inviting us to participate in his process, to fill in the blanks with our own experiences and observations. And that’s the beauty of art, right?