Zittende vrouw 1875 - 1934

Isaac Israels made this drawing of a seated woman with what looks like charcoal, and the immediacy of the medium really grabs you. It's a quick study, a moment captured, and you can almost feel Israels' hand moving across the paper. The marks are direct and economical, creating the form with just a few dark lines. Look at the way he suggests the folds of her dress and the shape of her face with just a few strokes. There’s an area of smudged charcoal just below her feet – maybe Israels used his finger to blend the lines and create a sense of shadow? It's these subtle details that give the drawing its energy and life. Israels reminds me a little of Degas, in the way that he captures the fleeting moments of modern life. But while Degas is all about observation, Israels is more about feeling. There's a looseness and a spontaneity to his work that makes it feel fresh and alive, even after all these years.