Twee figuren in gewaden, in profiel 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this drawing of two figures in robes with graphite on paper, and what hits me is how light and airy it feels. It's all about suggestion here, not definition. Look at how the lines barely graze the paper, just enough to give us the essence of a draped form. Israels isn't trying to capture every detail; instead, he's letting the negative space do the work, inviting us to fill in the blanks. The texture of the paper itself becomes part of the image. See that bit of smudging near the bottom right? That's where you feel the artist's hand and the process of making itself. It reminds me of Matisse’s line drawings, where the simplicity is deceptive, and every stroke carries a ton of weight. There’s a real conversation happening here between the artist, the subject, and us.