Lopende vrouw, op de rug gezien c. 1886 - 1934

This drawing of a running woman, seen from the back, was made by Isaac Israels, but when, we don’t know. It's all about the marks, right? Look how he lets the pencil dance across the page, not trying to capture every detail, but somehow getting the feeling of movement. Israels isn’t precious here; he’s feeling his way through the subject. The texture of the paper peeks through, reminding us of the physical act of drawing. See that flurry of lines around her shoulders? It’s like he’s trying to capture the air moving around her. And those quick, scribbled lines that suggest her dress – they tell you everything you need to know. Israels reminds me of Degas, another artist who loved capturing fleeting moments. Both show us that art isn’t about perfection; it’s about process, about seeing and feeling.