Staande man, in profiel 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this drawing, Staande man, in profiel, using graphite, and it’s all about the dance of lines. Israels is not precious, the marks are fast and loose, all process, like a jazz riff. It’s about seeing, and how seeing is also a way of thinking. Check out how Israels uses a minimum of lines to convey a maximum of information. See how the lines around the figure's head are darker, messier, than the lines around the legs? This area becomes a focal point, an area of emphasis. I get the feeling this is where he spent most of his time, trying to figure out the expression. Israels reminds me a little of Degas, in that he seemed more interested in the fleeting moment, the sketch, than the highly-finished product. Both of them show us that art is a conversation, full of questions, not just answers.