Staande man en vrouw c. 1915s - 1925s

Isaac Israels made this sketch of a standing man and woman with graphite on paper. Graphite is such a common material, but its use here is quite special. The artist coaxes the material to do so much, with the faintest gesture, suggesting a world of volume, light, and shadow. Israels isn't interested in a polished, finished look; rather, he is looking at the process of making and creating an immediate record of the figures he observed. The texture of the paper also matters. It gives the graphite something to bite into, creating a subtle grain that enlivens the image. You could almost say that Israels is collaborating with his materials, allowing them to have their say in the final result. This unpretentious approach reminds us that art-making isn't just about grand statements. It can also be about the quiet, everyday act of looking and recording.