Man met zijn armen over elkaar c. 1915s - 1925s

Here we have Isaac Israels’ sketch of a man with his arms crossed. It's such a quick drawing, just lines on paper, but it captures something real, doesn't it? I imagine Israels standing there, maybe in a busy place, quickly trying to catch the essence of this person before they move on. You can almost feel the artist’s hand moving, trying to get the gesture right. It reminds me how much drawing is about seeing and responding, a real-time conversation between the eye, the hand, and the subject. The lines are so minimal, but they give you everything you need. It’s like Israels is saying, "Here, look at this person." It’s like a fleeting thought made visible.