Portret van een onbekende man met bril 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this drawing of an unknown man with a pair of glasses, using what looks like pencil on paper. I love how Israels uses simple lines to capture the essence of this man. The shading around the head and face feels very direct, like Israels was really trying to nail the light and shadow. It’s cool how you can see the different pressures he used to create darker and lighter areas. The glasses are a trip, aren't they? The cross-hatching on the lenses really gives them depth, like you could almost see through them. The paper is so bare, it's almost like the drawing is floating in space. The line that defines his neck and collar is so light and airy. It reminds me a bit of Degas, how he would capture these fleeting moments. This drawing reminds me that art isn’t always about perfection; it’s about process and what you can capture in a moment.